United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres "deeply regrets" Washington's decision to deny a visa to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for the second consecutive year, preventing his attendance at the UN General Assembly.
A UN spokesman confirmed on Friday that the US State Department had refused entry visas not only to Abbas but also to other Palestinian officials for the upcoming assembly, which commences on Tuesday. Only members of the Palestinian mission to the UN will be permitted to attend the proceedings.
The Secretary-General is concerned about the implications of this decision on the State of Palestine's capacity for full engagement within the United Nations, according to a statement from his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric. Dujarric emphasized that the comprehensive participation of all delegations is crucial for the organization's effective functioning. Guterres continues to implore the United States, as the host nation, to uphold its obligations by issuing visas to all designated delegations.
This situation mirrors the previous year when the Trump administration also denied visas to the Palestinian delegation, compelling Abbas, a customary attendee, to address the global forum via video link. The General Assembly subsequently voted 152-3 on Thursday to permit Abbas to participate virtually once more this year. The United States and Israel have voiced objections to the Palestinian Authority's past financial support for families of incarcerated or deceased Palestinians, including those involved in attacks against Israelis. The Palestinian Authority recently revised its system, now providing welfare payments based on need rather than political affiliation or prisoner status.
The State Department articulated that Washington also opposes Palestinian efforts to "internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" through avenues such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, aiming to circumvent negotiations by seeking unilateral recognition. Furthermore, the department accused Palestinian officials of "continuing to pay stipends to terrorists and to glorify acts of terrorism and terrorists in public pronouncements and school textbooks." This stance places the United States at odds with the 142 UN member states that recognized a Palestinian state last year.
The denial of Abbas's visa occurs amidst a recent escalation of violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since Israel's occupation of the West Bank in 1967, violence in the territory has intensified significantly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks that precipitated the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Data compiled by Agence France-Presse indicates that at least 1,109 Palestinians, including combatants and civilians, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the October 2023 attacks. In Gaza, the conflict has resulted in over 73,821 Palestinian fatalities, according to the territory's health ministry.
