Palestinian president condemns Israel's 'crimes,' calls for permanent ceasefire

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday reiterated his condemnation of Israel's "crimes" and denounced Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel, while firmly asserting that the State of Palestine is the only legitimate entity qualified to assume full control of post-war Gaza.

Speaking via video at the high-level International Conference on a Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in New York, Abbas called for a permanent ceasefire, guaranteed delivery of humanitarian aid through the United Nations and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the release of hostages and prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the initiation of rehabilitation and reconstruction in Gaza and the West Bank.