US Blocks Palestinian Officials From Attending UN Summit on Statehood
The United States has announced that it will deny and revoke visas for senior officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), preventing them from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The decision comes as several Western nations prepare to debate and possibly recognize a Palestinian state during the high-level session.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move was necessary on national security grounds, accusing the PA and PLO of failing to condemn the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, promoting incitement to violence through education, and pursuing what Washington described as “lawfare” — efforts to gain recognition of Palestinian statehood through international courts.
The restrictions mean that top Palestinian leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas, could be unable to deliver their traditional address to the Assembly. However, the PA’s permanent mission to the UN, led by Ambassador Riyad Mansour, is exempt from the ban and will continue to represent Palestine in New York.
The decision marks a sharp departure from long-standing US practice. As the UN’s host country, Washington has historically allowed foreign officials to attend, even those from governments it opposed politically. Blocking an entire delegation to a General Assembly is seen as a highly unusual step that is likely to draw international criticism.
The move aligns the US more closely with Israel’s firm opposition to unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. It also contrasts with the stance of other major powers such as France, Canada, and Britain, who are reportedly considering moves toward formal recognition of a Palestinian state during the gathering.
Diplomatic observers warn that the visa ban risks inflaming tensions at the UN and undermining Washington’s role as a mediator in the Middle East. It also leaves uncertainty over whether President Abbas will receive any form of waiver to attend, or if Palestinian representation will be restricted to lower-level officials.
The decision underscores the current US administration’s hardline approach to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and signals its resistance to international initiatives aimed at bypassing negotiations in favor of unilateral recognition.
