The United States has announced it will not issue visas to members of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) scheduled to attend next month’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
According to a statement from the State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has moved to deny and revoke visas for Palestinian officials.
“The Trump administration has been clear: our national security interests require holding the PLO and the Palestinian Authority accountable for failing to meet their commitments and for undermining peace efforts,” the statement said.
Washington’s Message to Ramallah
The U.S. urged the Palestinian Authority to abandon unilateral efforts to gain recognition of a Palestinian state at the U.N., calling it a move that undermines peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly thanked the Trump administration for the decision, praising it as a “bold step” and reaffirming U.S. support for Israel.
Palestinian Response
The Palestinian Presidency condemned the move, urging Washington to reverse its decision, arguing it directly violates international law and the U.N. Headquarters Agreement.
In a statement published by the official WAFA news agency, Palestinian leaders stressed that the ban would block their delegation, including President Mahmoud Abbas, from participating in the annual high-level gathering.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, confirmed Abbas had intended to attend the assembly.
U.N. Reaction
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized that it was “important” for all states and observers, including Palestinians, to be represented.
“We certainly hope this issue will be resolved,” he said.
Wider Context: France Leads Recognition Effort
The dispute comes as France pushes a major diplomatic initiative to recognize a Palestinian state. French President Emmanuel Macron, frustrated by the failure to end the war in Gaza, has called a special summit on September 22, one day before the UNGA opens, where France will officially recognize Palestine.
Following France’s lead, Canada and Australia also announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom signaled it may follow suit if Israel refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza.
The U.S. and Israel, however, have accused France and its allies of “rewarding Hamas”, the Palestinian militant group designated as a terrorist organization by both Washington and Brussels, which launched the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, sparking the ongoing war in Gaza.
