U.S. Denies Visas to Palestinian Authority Officials Ahead of UN General Assembly

29 August 2025, 4:34 PM

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الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة — U.S. Department of State, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The United States announced on Friday that it will not grant visas to officials from the Palestinian Authority to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly next month, where France is reportedly preparing to recognize the State of Palestine.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of State said:

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejects and cancels visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority ahead of the UN General Assembly.”

As a result of these restrictions, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will likely be unable to travel to New York to deliver his annual speech at the event, scheduled to take place between September 23 and 27, 2025.

A memo from the State Department recommended denying visas to Palestinian officials and canceling all visas issued before July 31.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the American decision, thanking President Donald Trump and his administration for what he called “a bold step and a clear stance in support of Israel.”

On the other hand, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations responded:

“In light of the U.S. visa restrictions, we will see how this applies to our delegation.”

The Palestinian presidency expressed deep regret and astonishment at the U.S. decision, saying it contradicts international law and the “Headquarters Agreement,” especially since Palestine holds observer status at the United Nations.

The presidency urged the U.S. administration to reconsider its decision and allow the Palestinian delegation to attend the General Assembly. It reiterated its commitment to international law, UN resolutions, and peace efforts, as emphasized in President Mahmoud Abbas’ message to world leaders, including President Trump.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reaffirmed that the decision reflects a demand for accountability from the PLO and the Palestinian Authority over their “rewards to terrorists, incitement to hatred, and judicial warfare against Israel.”