Palestinian leader tells UN no role for Hamas in state

APPEALS FOR FULL GLOBAL SUPPORT IN FACE OF ISRAELI ANNEXATION THREATS

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Abbas called for an interim committee led by the Palestinian Authority to be put in charge temporarily of Gaza, of which Hamas took control in 2007.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday rejected any future role for Hamas and condemned antisemitism, as he appealed for full global support for a state in the face of Israeli annexation threats.

Days after France led a special summit and several Western powers recognised a state of Palestine, the veteran 89-year-old leader was forced to address the UN General Assembly by video after the United States took the unusual step of denying him a visa to come to New York.

Abbas took a moderate tone in his speech as he directly took up key concerns of Israel and the United States notably on Hamas, which is based in Gaza and is the rival to his Fatah movement.