US denies visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of UN General Assembly

Travel sanctions extended

The United States Department of State announced on 16 September 2026 that it will prolong sanctions denying entry visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and officials from the Palestinian Authority. A source familiar with the dossier confirmed to Agence France-Presse that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is covered by the decision. The denial prevents Abbas from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in person for the second consecutive year. During the 2025 assembly, the Trump administration similarly denied him an entry visa, compelling the Palestinian leader to deliver his speech remotely via videoconference.

The State Department, headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, declined to comment specifically on the individual exclusion of Abbas when asked, but confirmed that the existing waiver for notified personnel of the PLO Observation Mission to the United Nations remains active. This waiver allows a restricted Palestinian delegation to maintain an administrative presence at the headquarters in New York while barring higher-ranking officials from traveling to the United States.

Due to their failure to carry out reforms, contrary to commitments made to the United States, and their continued activities that undermine peace prospects, the United States will extend sanctions denying visas to PLO members and Palestinian Authority officials.

Specific grievances cited by Washington

In official statements, Washington justified the visa denial by citing the national interest and a desire to impose consequences on Palestinian leadership. The State Department stated that the Palestinian Authority failed to meet governance reform pledges previously agreed upon with the United States. Furthermore, American diplomats cited initiatives by the Palestinian leadership to internationalize the conflict with Israel, drawing particular attention to cases brought before the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

The United States also rebuked the Palestinian Authority for seeking unilateral diplomatic recognition of Palestinian statehood rather than pursuing bilateral peace negotiations. The State Department further accused the Palestinian Authority and the PLO of continuing to allocate stipend payments to individuals involved in militant attacks, while glorifying terrorists and violent acts in official public statements and school textbooks.

International divisions and UN timetable

The American visa denial places Washington at odds with several international partners regarding the status of Palestinian representation. In 2025, 142 United Nations member states backed an initiative supporting Palestinian statehood at the conclusion of a two-state solution conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, with France formally recognizing a Palestinian state at the United Nations.

The renewed visa restrictions coincide with rising settler violence against Palestinians across the West Bank in recent months. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and violence across the territory intensified following the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 that started the war in the Gaza Strip. The United States government has noted its opposition to any formal annexation of Palestinian territory. Abbas will be barred from addressing world leaders in person during the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly, which runs from 22 to 28 September 2026 in New York.