UNITED NATIONS
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pleaded for an end to Israel's settlement occupation in Gaza, at the UN General Assembly at its headquarters in New York on Friday.
Abbas spoke at the United Nations 69th General Assembly and said “The time has come to end this settlement occupation. Palestine refuses to have the right to freedom of her people curtailed. Those who are subjected to terrorism by the racist occupying power and its settlers, remain hostage to Israel's security conditions.”
He also blamed Israel for its latest offensive attacks on Gaza saying, “This last war against Gaza was a series of absolute war crimes carried out before the eyes and ears of the entire world, moment by moment, in a manner that makes it inconceivable that anyone today can claim that they did not realize the magnitude and horror of the crime.”
Abbas said that the latest series of war crimes against Gaza was made in front of the world, “In the name of Palestine and its people, I affirm here today: we will not forget and we will not forgive, and we will not allow war criminals to escape punishment."
Abbas confirmed that the State of Palestine always considers and respects international law to defend themselves.
Israel's latest offensive ended on August 26 with the announcement of an open-ended cease-fire, leaving 2,152 Gazans dead and about 11,000 injured, the vast majority of them civilians, and thousands of buildings in ruins.
At least 72 Israelis – 67 soldiers and five civilians – were killed, according to Israeli figures.
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