Palestinian Authority urges US to reverse visa bans ahead of UN General Assembly

Pressured by a wave of visa denials and revocations aimed at members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Palestinian Authority before the UN General Assembly in September, the Palestinian Authority on Friday called on the US to reconsider its stance and allow its representatives to participate.

In a statement carried by the official news agency WAFA, the Palestinian presidency urged the US administration to “reconsider and reverse its decision”, adding that the move “stands in clear contradiction to international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement”.

Washington said the move was in response to the PA “undermining the prospects for peace”.

US State Department said on Friday that the Trump administration led by President Trump has decided to withhold new visas and revoke existing ones for certain PLO and PA officials.

The department did not name the officials targeted. It was unclear whether Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is planning to travel to New York to deliver an address to the late September gathering, was included in the restrictions.

The Palestinians’ ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, told reporters that they were checking exactly what the US move means “and how it applies to any of our delegation, and we will respond accordingly”, reported Reuters.

The US restrictions follow the imposition of US sanctions on Palestinian Authority (PA) officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in July — an action coinciding with growing momentum among Western powers toward recognising Palestinian statehood.

In a statement, the State Department said that “it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace.”

PA officials, who administer limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, deny that they have undermined peace prospects.

Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign minister hailed the decision by US as a “bold step”.

“We thank (President Donald Trump) and the administration for this bold step and for standing by Israel once again,” Gideon Saar posted on his official X account.

“Thank you (Secretary of State Marco Rubio) for holding the “PLO” (Palestine Liberation Organization) and PA (Palestinian Authority) accountable for rewarding terrorism, incitement and efforts to use legal warfare against Israel,” he added.

While under the 1947 UN “headquarters agreement,” the US is generally obliged to allow foreign diplomats access to the UN in New York, it retains the right to deny visas for reasons related to security, terrorism, or foreign policy.

The State Department clarified that the Palestinian Authority’s mission to the UN would remain unaffected by the restrictions, though it provided no further details.

Palestinians continue to pursue the establishment of an independent state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem through a mediated peace process.

Critics point to increased settlement activity in the West Bank and significant destruction in Gaza amid the ongoing war as impediments to that goal. Israel disputes these claims.

Meanwhile, close US allies — including Canada, Britain, Australia, and France — recently announced or signaled intentions to recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly session, increasing pressure on Israel as humanitarian conditions worsen in Gaza.

With inputs from agencies