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Abbas addresses UN by video after US denies visa for second year

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a prerecorded speech to the UN General Assembly after Washington again refused him a visa, with outlets differing on which parts of his sweeping accusations against Israel to foreground.

Analysis deskEditor Andersson Iyke
11 outlets, 6 regions

What happened

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday via a prerecorded video speech after the United States denied him and his delegation visas for a second consecutive year.126911

According to South China Morning Post and Folha de S.Paulo, Abbas said Palestinians face one of the most dangerous periods in their history, citing displacement, occupation and denial of their right to self-determination.1310

He accused Israel, per South China Morning Post, of waging what he called a "genocidal war" in Gaza, and, per The National, of killing, destruction, starvation and attempts to displace Palestinians there, as well as expanding settlements in the West Bank; he also warned against what he called another Nakba.121011

Abbas also called for support of a two-state solution and, per The National and Anadolu Agency, faster implementation of a US-led Gaza peace plan.7810

What's agreed

Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.

  • Mahmoud Abbas delivered his UN General Assembly speech via prerecorded video rather than in person.1256911
  • The United States denied Abbas and/or the Palestinian delegation a visa, marking the second consecutive year this has happened.26911
  • Abbas invoked the term Nakba in warning about the risks facing Palestinians.210

Where accounts differ

Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.

Characterization of Israel's actions in Gaza

Abbas, as reported by South China Morning Post

Described Israel's campaign in Gaza as a genocidal war.1

Abbas, as reported by The National

Accused Israeli forces of killing, destruction, starvation and attempts to displace Palestinians in Gaza, without using the term genocide.10

Whether Abbas denounced settler violence and settlement expansion

Abbas, as reported by South China Morning Post

Accused Israel of fragmenting the occupied West Bank through settlement expansion and warned that settler terrorism was on the rise.1

Abbas, as reported by The Jerusalem Post

Denounced settler violence and the expansion of settlements, in a brief item focused narrowly on this point.11

How it's framed

What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.

PerspectiveHow it readsWhat it puts first
Middle East and Gulf outletsMiddle East & TurkeyCoverage emphasizes Abbas's calls for international action, the Gaza peace plan, and accusations against Israeli forces, with Al Jazeera (state-controlled) foregrounding the theme of international silence.4810genocidal war framing avoided or softened, calls for peace plan implementation, international community's silence
Israeli outletMiddle East & TurkeyThe Jerusalem Post's brief item focuses narrowly on Abbas denouncing settler violence and settlement expansion, without covering broader accusations against Israel's conduct in Gaza.11settler violence, settlement expansion, second consecutive virtual address
European public broadcasters and pressEuropeFrance 24 and Le Monde emphasize the procedural fact of the visa denial and Abbas speaking remotely, while Deutsche Welle centers Abbas's calls for a two-state solution and criticism of both the US and Israel.279visa denial for second year, new Nakba warning, two-state solution advocacy
East Asian and Latin American outletsEast AsiaSouth China Morning Post and Folha de S.Paulo emphasize Abbas's strongest language, including genocidal war and threats to Palestinian life and existence, alongside the visa denial context.13genocidal war, threats to Palestinian existence, two-state solution weakened
US and South Asian outletsNorth AmericaThe New York Times frames the moment as dueling speeches between Netanyahu and Abbas amid criticism of Israel's Gaza conduct, while The Times of India offers a brief factual account centered on the visa denial itself.56dueling UN addresses, criticism of Israel's conduct, visa denial as the central fact

What the coverage leaves out

  • None of the outlets reviewed reported the US government's stated reason for denying Abbas or the Palestinian delegation a visa.
  • None of the outlets reviewed reported Israeli government or Netanyahu's direct response to Abbas's specific accusations in this speech.
  • None of the outlets reviewed detailed the specific provisions of the Gaza peace plan Abbas referenced or its current implementation status.

Why it matters

The speeches were delivered amid what The New York Times described as criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza, with Netanyahu also addressing the same UN General Assembly session.5

Abbas's address occurred at the 81st UN General Assembly session, according to The National.10

What to watch

  • Benjamin Netanyahu's separate address to the UN General Assembly the same day, as noted by Le Monde and The New York Times.
  • Further developments on implementation of the US-led Gaza peace plan referenced by Abbas, per The National and Anadolu Agency.

Sources (11)

Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.

North America

Latin America

Europe

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