Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, was born in Safed on March 26, 1935. He later became a Palestinian political leader, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and President of the Palestinian Authority.

Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, was born on November 15, 1935, in Safed, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel). His family fled to Syria during the 1948 Palestine war.

Abbas' family left Safed, Palestine to live in Syria as refugees in 1948.

In 1959, became a founding member of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), a significant political group within the PLO, playing a key role in Palestinian politics.

In 1961, Yasser Arafat recruited Mahmoud Abbas to join Fatah, a significant step in his political career.

In 1968, joined the Palestinian National Council (PNC), showcasing commitment to Palestinian national aspirations and political involvement.

Part of the funds raised by Mahmoud Abbas were unknowingly used to carry out the 1972 Munich massacre. This event had a significant impact on the perception of Abbas's involvement in controversial activities.

In 1977, Mahmoud Abbas called for the repatriation of Arab Jews to their countries of origin, receiving approval from several Arab nations. This stance showcased Abbas's diplomatic efforts and positions on regional issues.

In 1980, Abbas served as the head of the PLO's department for national and international relations.

Abbas completed his CandSc thesis in 1982, titled 'The Connection between the Nazis and the Leaders of the Zionist Movement 1933–1945', which discussed controversial topics like the Haavara Agreement and has been criticized for elements of Holocaust denial.

In 1984, Abbas published a book titled 'The Other Side: the Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism', where he disputed the number of Holocaust victims and faced accusations of Holocaust denial.

On 13 September 1993, Mahmoud Abbas signed the Oslo I Accord on behalf of the PLO, marking a significant step towards Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. This event highlighted Abbas's role in diplomatic initiatives.

In September 1995, Mahmoud Abbas returned to the Palestinian territories after 48 years in exile. He took up residences in Gaza and Ramallah, marking a significant moment in his political career.

In October 1995, Mahmoud Abbas, along with his Israeli counterpart Yossi Beilin, drafted the controversial “Framework for the Conclusion of a Final Status Agreement Between Israel and the PLO,” also known as the Abu-Mazen-Beilin Plan. The plan was a significant step towards peace negotiations between the two parties.

In January 1996, Mahmoud Abbas served as the head of the Central Election Commission for the Palestine Legislative Council elections. He was elected as a representative for Qalqilya, marking his entry into Palestinian politics.

In May 1996, Mahmoud Abbas, along with Uri Savir, headed the first session of the Israeli-Palestinian Authority final status talks. This marked an important moment in the peace process between the two parties.

One of Mahmoud Abbas' sons, Mazen, passed away in 2002.

On March 19, 2003, Mahmoud Abbas accepted the position of Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.

On June 3, 2003, Mahmoud Abbas met with US President George W. Bush, along with leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Bahrain, in Egypt to discuss peace efforts.

On September 6, 2003, Mahmoud Abbas resigned from his position as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.

On November 11, 2004, Mahmoud Abbas became the Chairman of the PLO following the death of Yasser Arafat.

On January 9, 2005, Mahmoud Abbas was elected as the President of the Palestinian National Authority with 63% of the vote, succeeding Yasser Arafat.

On January 15, 2005, Mahmoud Abbas was formally sworn in as the President of the Palestinian National Authority in a ceremony held in Ramallah, West Bank.

Abbas met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit to end the Second Intifada and reaffirmed their commitment to the Roadmap for peace process. Sharon agreed to release 900 Palestinian prisoners and withdraw from West Bank towns.

Abbas had held the position of president of the State of Palestine unofficially since May 8, 2005.

On May 26, 2005, Mahmoud Abbas met with President George W. Bush at the White House, marking the first meeting with the Palestinian Authority since peace talks stalled in 2000.

On May 31, 2005, Mahmoud Abbas underwent a successful minor heart procedure at a hospital in Amman, Jordan.

On July 25, 2005, Mahmoud Abbas announced that he would move his office to Gaza until the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops. This move aimed to coordinate the Palestinian side of the withdrawal and mediate between different factions.

Abbas announced that legislative elections, originally scheduled for July 2005, would take place in January 2006. Despite unrest in Gaza, he maintained the election date, leading to a decisive Hamas victory.

In light of Fatah's election loss and potential Hamas one-party government, Abbas stated he would not run for office again. However, due to international sanctions and conflicts, he extended his term beyond the expiration date.

On February 21, 2006, Mahmoud Abbas asked Hamas leader Ismail Haniya to form a government, with Haniya being sworn in as Prime Minister in March.

On 25 May 2006, Abbas gave Hamas a ten-day deadline to accept the 1967 ceasefire lines, showing efforts to maintain peace and stability.

On 16 December 2006, Abbas called for new legislative elections to resolve the parliamentary stalemate between Fatah and Hamas, aiming for political stability.

On 17 March 2007, a unity government was formed with members from both Hamas and Fatah, led by Ismail Haniyeh as prime minister, in an effort to establish a national coalition government.

On June 14, 2007, Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led unity government of Ismail Haniyeh, declared a state of emergency, and appointed Salam Fayyad as the new prime minister. This action was deemed illegal under the Palestinian Basic Law, sparking controversy and challenges to Fayyad's appointment.

On June 18, 2007, the European Union promised to resume direct aid to the Palestinian Authority, and the United States decided to end its embargo and resume aid as well. This was aimed at strengthening Mahmoud Abbas's West Bank government and resolving issues with Hamas.

On March 2, 2008, Mahmoud Abbas declared the suspension of peace talks with Israel. This decision came in response to Israeli military operations against militants launching rockets into southern Israel.

On May 20, 2008, Mahmoud Abbas stated that he would resign from his office if the current round of peace talks did not yield an agreement within six months. He expressed frustration over the deadlock in negotiations at that time.

On November 23, 2008, Abbas was chosen as the president of the State of Palestine by the PLO Central Council.

On December 16, 2009, Abbas was voted into office indefinitely by the PLO Central Council.

Mahmoud Abbas eulogized the mastermind of the Munich Massacre, according to Arutz Sheva in July 2010.

Mahmoud Abbas stated that they won't recognize Israel as a Jewish state in an article by YNET News in October 2010.

On September 16, 2011, Mahmoud Abbas declared during a speech in Ramallah that he intends to seek full United Nations membership for Palestine.

On September 23, 2011, Mahmoud Abbas formally submitted a statehood application letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Mahmoud Abbas and his sons faced accusations of corruption during a hearing in the US Congress, with claims of embezzlement and misuse of public funds. The debate highlighted concerns about chronic kleptocracy within the Palestinian political establishment.

On November 29, 2012, a resolution passed to upgrade the status of the Palestinian mission to the UN to 'nonmember observer state', allowing access to international bodies and treaties.

On January 3, 2013, Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree renaming the organization as the 'State of Palestine'.

In October 2014, Abbas stated that he would not run for another term as Palestinian Authority President if elections were held soon, expressing a desire for a break from political life.

On December 31, 2014, following the rejection of a UN Security Council resolution, Abbas applied to join the International Criminal Court, potentially allowing the Palestinian Authority to file war crime complaints against Israel.

On August 22, 2015, Mahmoud Abbas announced his resignation as chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, leading to speculation about his motives and criticisms. He called for an emergency meeting of the PNC to hold an election, but the proposed special session was postponed indefinitely. Abbas continued to serve as acting chairman of the PLC as of October 2023.

Mahmoud Abbas stirred up Palestinian politics with a PLO reshuffle bid, according to Reuters in August 2015.

In September 2015, a meeting of the PLO was scheduled to elect a new chairman after Abbas's resignation, with potential challenges due to travel restrictions on Palestinian legislators.

During a speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2015, Abbas asserted that the Palestinian Authority was no longer bound by the Oslo Accords and subsequent agreements with Israel.

On 23 June 2016, Abbas repeated a false claim to the European Parliament about rabbis in Israel calling for Palestinian wells to be poisoned. He later retracted the statement, clarifying that it was not true and apologizing for any offense caused.

Soviet documents from the Mitrokhin Archive at Churchill College claim that Mahmoud Abbas, who studied in Moscow in 1982, was a KGB agent while being a member of the PLO in Damascus. Palestinian leaders criticize the report as a smear campaign.

Mahmoud Abbas attends the funeral of Israeli statesman Shimon Peres and shares a handshake with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mahmoud Abbas is hospitalized to undergo a heart test.

According to a PA minister, Mahmoud Abbas will continue to provide financial support to Palestinian prisoners.

Mahmoud Abbas meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

An official mentioned that Palestinian terror glorification is diminishing under Trump's administration, as per Jerusalem Post in May 2017.

In December 2017, Mahmoud Abbas was re-elected as the president of Fatah during the party's first conference in seven years. Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, is the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and president of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Abbas cancels a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence in response to Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

On January 14, 2018, Mahmoud Abbas urges the PLO to review all agreements with Israel, claiming that Israel has rendered them ineffective. He accuses Israel of violating the Oslo agreement, following Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

On April 30, 2018, Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech denying the Holocaust, claiming it was not caused by anti-Semitism but by the “social behavior” of the Jews, including money-lending. This speech sparked international controversy and condemnation.

Mahmoud Abbas stated that the behavior of Jews, not anti-Semitism, was the cause of the Holocaust.

On May 28, 2018, Mahmoud Abbas is discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for pneumonia.

Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2018, in New York City.

In January 2019, Mahmoud Abbas accepted the chairmanship of the United Nations' Group of 77 on behalf of Palestine, a non-member observer state. This move highlighted Palestine's diplomatic presence on the international stage.

On January 28, 2020, Mahmoud Abbas rejected Trump's Middle East Peace to Prosperity plan, stating that Jerusalem is not for sale and all their rights are not up for compromise. Abbas made this statement from Ramallah in the West Bank, expressing his strong opposition to the plan unveiled alongside Netanyahu at the White House.

On April 29, 2021, Mahmoud Abbas announced the postponement of planned parliamentary elections, citing Israel's failure to confirm allowing voting in East Jerusalem as the reason. This decision stirred controversy and raised concerns about the democratic process in Palestine.

During a news conference in Berlin on August 16, 2022, Mahmoud Abbas sparked outrage by stating that Israel has caused '50 Holocausts' against Palestinians. This inflammatory remark led to condemnation from world leaders and a significant backlash on social media.

In a speech, Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of causing '50 Holocausts,' sparking controversy.

The White House expressed disappointment over the remarks made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On July 26, 2023, Mahmoud Abbas met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The meeting was part of Turkey's efforts to reconcile Fatah with Hamas, showcasing diplomatic efforts in the region.

Mahmoud Abbas stated that Hitler's fight against European Jews was due to their usury and money dealings, not antisemitism.

Comments made by Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas were deemed antisemitic, leading to widespread criticism.

On November 5, 2023, Mahmoud Abbas held a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Ramallah amidst escalating settler violence in the West Bank following Hamas' attack on Israel. The meeting aimed to address the growing tensions and seek diplomatic solutions to the conflict.

In February 2024, Mahmoud Abbas referred to the Al-Rashid humanitarian aid incident as an 'ugly massacre' carried out by the Israeli occupation army. This incident prompted strong condemnation from Abbas.