U.S. Denies Palestinian Leader Access to UN Meeting Amid Ongoing Tensions

Mon Sep 15 2025 18:00:37 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has had his visa revoked by the U.S. State Department, barring him and 80 officials from attending a crucial UN General Assembly session next month.

The U.S. government has blocked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from participating in the upcoming UN General Assembly by revoking his visa, along with those of 80 other officials. This unprecedented move, justified by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio citing a need to maintain peace efforts, comes as international discussions progress towards recognizing Palestine as a state. Abbas's office has condemned the decision as a violation of international law and urged the U.S. to reverse it.

The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been denied the opportunity to attend the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York due to the revocation of his visa, along with those of 80 additional Palestinian officials.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has attributed this decision to Abbas's actions that allegedly undermine peace initiatives, including his pursuit of unilateral recognition for a Palestinian state.

This is a notable departure from the U.S.'s typical role of facilitating travel for foreign leaders attending UN meetings, as the decision has been received positively by Israel.

The timing coincides with France's efforts to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN, a move opposed by the Trump administration and supported by several other countries including the UK and Canada.

Initially, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, expressed expectations that Abbas and his delegation would take part in the meeting; however, the State Department clarified the visa restrictions affecting members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA).

This decision has raised concerns about compliance with the UN Headquarters Agreement, which stipulates that foreign officials should not be impeded from attending UN sessions regardless of U.S. relations with their governments.

In response, Abbas's office has denounced the move as contradictory to international law, calling on U.S. authorities to reconsider their decision. This situation reflects ongoing tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Palestinian leadership, as attempts for peace and statehood continue to be fraught with challenges.