Washington — The United States has revoked visas for Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and nearly 80 senior Palestinian officials, effectively blocking them from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. The decision, announced by the State Department, comes at a critical moment when Palestinian leaders had planned to push for greater recognition of statehood and highlight the Ongoing Genocide in Gaza.
The US has justified the measure by citing national security concerns and accusing the Palestinian Authority of pursuing unilateral diplomatic campaigns against Israel, including cases in international courts. Officials in Washington claimed that allowing the delegation entry would reward actions that “undermine peace.” The decision, however, is seen widely as a clear act of political suppression, aligning US policy even more closely with Israel’s hardline stance.
Palestinian officials denounced the move as an unlawful violation of the UN Headquarters Agreement, which obligates the United States, as host nation, to permit access for all member states and their representatives. Senior aides to Abbas warned that the U.S. decision strips Palestinians of their ability to participate in crucial international debates at a time of worsening humanitarian famine in Gaza as a “man-made crisis.”
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, alongside ministers from France and other European capitals, urged Washington to reverse course. Diplomats described the move as not only politically reckless but also damaging to America’s already waning credibility on the international stage. Even some Western governments that typically align with US foreign policy expressed unease, noting that such exclusions undermine the legitimacy of the UN itself.
The visa denial comes against the backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza, where Israel has intensified its military operations, worsening famine conditions, and sparking accusations of genocide from humanitarian organizations. Analysts say the timing reveals Washington’s intent to silence Palestinian voices while shielding Israel from accountability. The absence of Abbas at the General Assembly could allow Israel and its allies to control the narrative unchallenged.
This is not the first time the United States has barred Palestinian leaders from UN participation. In 1988, it refused entry to Yasser Arafat, prompting the UN to relocate its session to Geneva. Many observers warn that this latest move risks repeating that diplomatic embarrassment.
According to the Associated Press, the Palestinian president’s office has formally appealed for reinstatement of the visas, while calling on the international community, especially France, Saudi Arabia, and other influential states, to intervene. Multiple governments are now considering recognizing a Palestinian state in direct response to Washington’s decision.
Critics argue that Washington’s decision is part of a broader strategy to silence Palestinian voices at the UN, ensuring there is no effective defense against Israel’s ongoing Gaza Genocide. By denying Abbas and his delegation entry, the United States is not only backing Israel diplomatically but also giving full political cover to what rights groups describe as the ongoing genocide of Palestinians, a policy that leaves the international stage tilted heavily in Israel’s favor.
