The United States has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The State Department issued a statement indicating that visas would be denied to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This decision was attributed to their "failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace." A source confirmed to AFP that President Abbas was encompassed by this measure.
This action mirrors a similar step taken by the Trump administration last year, which compelled the Palestinian leader to address the UN General Assembly via video link. The State Department reiterated that the PLO and PA have "once again, failed to live up to their commitments," citing actions at international organizations that contradict prior agreements and efforts to "internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict."
Washington also accused these organizations of pursuing unilateral recognition, bypassing negotiations, and continuing to provide stipends to individuals identified as terrorists, while glorifying such acts through public statements and educational materials. The decision places the U.S. in divergence with numerous nations, including France, which have recognized a Palestinian state within the United Nations.
The visa denial occurs amid escalating violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and violence in the region has significantly increased since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, which precipitated the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Since October 7, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,109 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health ministry data.
