The state of Palestine, officially recognized by the overwhelming majority of member states here, but His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, the esteemed president of the state of Palestine, has been unable to attend these sessions for two consecutive years now.

This injustice against our Palestinian brothers and sisters deeply offends the conscience of humanity.

Let it be known that although President Abbas is unable to be with us here in person, we will, as we did last year, continue to be the voice of a free and sovereign state of Palestine.