In an unusually sharp tone, Abbas demanded that Hamas release all hostages held in Gaza, specifically calling out the case of Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage. "Why haven't you released the American hostage?" Abbas asked during his speech, referencing Alexander's dual citizenship.

Continuing his remarks, Abbas rejected the notion that the deaths of over 200,000 residents of the Gaza Strip could be dismissed as a mere "tactical loss," a phrase reportedly used by those he accused of causing what he called "the Nakba of division", referring to the violent political and territorial split between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

Abbas stated that Hamas must "end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority." He added that the organization should transform into a political party that abides by the laws of a future Palestinian state and respects international legitimacy. "We are working with Egypt and the United Nations to organize an international conference in Gaza," he said.