Israel has almost entirely destroyed Gaza and made it uninhabitable, Palestine's Abbas says

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday said Israel had almost entirely destroyed the Gaza Strip, rendering it uninhabitable, and called for Israeli allies to stop sending weapons.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Abbas said Israel “does not deserve” to be in the UN because it refuses to comply with resolutions and is hostile to the world body.

“Stop this crime. Stop it now. Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel,” Mr Abbas said. “This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people in Gaza and the West Bank.”

He criticised the US for blocking three Security Council draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “The US alone stood and said ‘No, the fighting is going to continue,'” he said. “And this further encouraged Israel to continuous aggression. As long as the US is supporting it, then why not keep going? It furnished Israel with the deadly weapons that it used to kill thousands of innocent civilians, children and women.”

Israel announced on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the US to support its continuing military efforts.

The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defence systems including the Iron Dome anti-missile system and an advanced laser system.

“Despite our repeated calls and demands, the world has not succeeded in obliging Israel, this transient state, to stop this war of genocide and its war crimes against innocent civilian residents,” said Mr Abbas.

Outlining his “day-after” plans, Mr Abbas said the Palestinian Authority would take control of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, all currently occupied by Israel, once the war ends.

He accused Israel of rendering Gaza uninhabitable after engaging in widespread destruction. He called for humanitarian aid to be delivered urgently, in an “organised manner and in sufficient quantities, because there's nothing in Gaza and they need everything”.

Mr Abbas also rejected the creation of buffer zones and called for the return of displaced residents to their homes. “Gaza is just 7km by 40km and Israel wants to divide it. It was already fragmented and we will not concede a single centimetre,” he said.

The Palestinian Authority is prepared to hold elections, he added. “We've been ready before but Israel blocked elections in Jerusalem. If permitted, we are prepared to proceed and establish a Palestinian government based on the election results.”