PA's Abbas demands immediate end to war on Gaza at BRICS summit
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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas calls for the convening of an international peace conference, supervised by the UN and involving key global stakeholders, to address and resolve the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (RIA Novosti)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Thursday for an immediate halt to "Israel’s" genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
Speaking at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Abbas affirmed that achieving justice for the Palestinian people is "the most important test" at this critical moment in history.
He condemned "Israel’s" continued use of force and occupation, urging international sanctions against "Israel" for its failure to comply with United Nations resolutions.
Abbas also called for the convening of an international peace conference, supervised by the UN and involving key global stakeholders, to address and resolve the ongoing Israeli occupation.
He highlighted the significant role that BRICS countries could play in establishing peace and security, acknowledging their growing global influence.
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Abbas' visit comes in light of several Russian statements calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In September, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, called on the United States to demand that the Israeli occupation lift its blockade on Gaza and allow significant volumes of humanitarian aid to enter the war-stricken strip.
During a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza, Nebenzia emphasized that Washington should prioritize lifting the blockade over constructing a pier for aid deliveries.
"Instead of building the pier, Washington could have demanded that Israel lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of truly substantial aid volumes," Nebenzia said.
Aggression on Lebanon, Gaza must stop immediately
During his speech at the general debate in the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 26, Abbas said that the Lebanese people are being "subjected to a genocidal war" by the Israeli regime.
Abbas said that "Israel must stop the war on Lebanon and Palestine," adding that the Palestinian presidency condemns this aggression and demands that it be stopped "immediately."
He pointed to the immense destruction caused by the Israeli onslaught on Gaza, saying the Strip is "unrecognizable."
"If Israel thinks that it would escape accountability and punishment for these crimes, then it is delusional," Abbas underlined.
"The international community must immediately impose sanctions on Israel," he urged, adding that governments must stop arms supplies to the Israeli government.
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Abbas also called for the establishment of an international peacekeeping force which he claimed "guarantee the security of both countries."
Moreover, he repeated his call for an internationally-backed visit to the Gaza Strip that he would lead.
"Regarding what needs to be done now and on the day after the war, we demand that the State of Palestine take responsibility in the [Strip] to exercise its full sovereignty over it, including the border crossings, foremost among them the Rafah International Crossing between Egypt and Palestine, as part of a comprehensive plan," he said.
