Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and more than 80 senior Palestinian officials have been blocked from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in New York, after the U.S. State Department revoked their visas. The decision has been confirmed by U.S. authorities. Palestinian Leader Blocked by U.S. from Attending UN Meeting in New York
Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited the group’s efforts to gain unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state and accused them of undermining ongoing peace processes.
The move, which has drawn praise from Israel, is considered highly unusual, as the U.S. traditionally grants access to foreign officials attending UN events—given its role as host nation.
The visa ban comes at a critical time, with France leading a push to formally recognize Palestine as a state during the UN session—an initiative strongly opposed by the Trump administration. Palestinian Leader Blocked by U.S. from Attending UN Meeting in New York
Abbas Expected to Attend UN Summit, But U.S. Blocks
Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour had previously stated that President Mahmoud Abbas would attend the upcoming UN summit in New York on behalf of Palestine. A U.S. State Department official later announced, however, that Abbas, along with approximately 80 other Palestinian officials, would be impacted by a decision to withhold or cancel visas for members of both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Legal Uncertainty Over Visa Restrictions
Though U.S. Senator Marco Rubio commented that Palestinian delegates already based at the UN mission in New York may still participate in the meetings under the UN Headquarters Agreement, it is not certain whether the wider visa restrictions are compatible with the terms of the agreement. The agreement requires that the U.S. should not hinder the attendance of foreign officials at UN events irrespective of political ties.
Abbas’ office denounced the U.S. action, terming it a clear breach of international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement, more so considering Palestine’s observer status at the UN. It urged the U.S. to withdraw the decision.
On the other hand, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the U.S. move. The diplomatic strain is against the backdrop of a long-standing conflict in the region with Hamas holding Gaza and Fatah—Abbas’ faction—fighting to keep control in the West Bank.
Abbas, also chairman of the PLO, speaks for Palestinians in international forums. The PLO has occupied observer status on the UN since 1974, and this brings them the privilege of attending meetings but not votes on decisions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is strongly against a two-state solution, claiming that validating Palestinian statehood would be rewarding what he refers to as Hamas’ “monstrous terrorism.” This has only made it more difficult to make progress toward peace.
The episode is set against a backdrop of a devastating Israeli military offensive in Gaza that came after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 and involving 251 hostages taken. Over 63,000 people have been reported dead in Gaza since then, as per the Hamas-controlled health ministry.