Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that Israel "wants to destroy all of Palestine" in a Monday interview.
"Netanyahu does not want a fully-fledged Palestinian state," he said, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "determined to continue the genocide of the Palestinian people."
"We recognized Israel since 1988, yet it [Israel] still prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state."
He went on to say that the PA is "ready to take over Gaza’s governance and we have the capabilities for it. We have no objections to Arab or international partnerships in managing Gaza," he added.
He mentioned that several countries across the globe intend to recognize a Palestinian state.
"One hundred and forty-nine countries have recognized the Palestinian state. Several heads of state have told me they intend to recognize Palestine."
These statements were made ahead of a United Nations General Assembly meeting scheduled for later in September, from which Abbas and several other Palestinian officials were barred from attending by the United States.
Before the US revoked the visas, Abbas said that he was considering unilaterally announcing the transformation of the PA into a state.
In the Monday interview, he told Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that he is aiming to "go to the UN for full membership for Palestine."
Abbas on Palestinian disarmament in Lebanon
Abbas noted that he agreed with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's decision to have Beirut's forces confiscate any weapons from Palestinian refugee camps.
The Jerusalem Post previously reported that disarming Palestinian groups in Lebanon could pave the way for Aoun's government to disarm Hezbollah.
"Withdrawing weapons from Palestinian camps is a step towards protecting Lebanon," Abbas said. "I want a normal relationship with Lebanon and for it to maintain its unity and security. I will not be the cause of disrupting the Lebanese state's project. Palestinian weapons will remain a trust with the Lebanese state."