United States denies entry visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of UN General Assembly

Second year of travel restrictions

The United States government has denied entry visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of Palestinian officials planning to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision marks the second consecutive year that the administration of President Donald Trump has barred the Palestinian delegation from traveling in person to the annual diplomatic gathering. Abbas's office was notified of the rejection on 16 September 2026, ahead of the general debate scheduled to begin on 22 September. During the previous year's assembly, Abbas was similarly prevented from traveling and addressed world leaders through a remote video link. The visa restrictions do not apply to accredited personnel serving at the permanent observer mission of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations.

Grounds for the visa refusal

In its formal announcement, the US State Department stated that it was extending existing sanctions against members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and officials of the Palestinian Authority. Washington cited Section 212(a)(3)(B) of US immigration law, which establishes permanent inadmissibility for individuals affiliated with terrorism, alongside accusations that Palestinian leadership failed to enact required institutional reforms. The State Department also pointed to Palestinian efforts to seek unilateral statehood recognition and pursue legal actions against Israel at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. US officials further criticized the Palestinian Authority for paying stipends to prisoners and for language in educational textbooks.

The State Department framed the restriction around what it described as unfulfilled commitments:

“As a consequence of their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace, the United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials.”

Palestinian Authority reaction and international law

The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move, describing the visa denials as a punitive step that harms diplomatic progress. Palestinian officials reaffirmed their commitment to international law, United Nations resolutions, and a two-state solution based on the 4 June 1967 borders. They argued that pursuing cases before international legal bodies is a peaceful response after decades of negotiations failed to end Israeli occupation or halt settlement expansion. The ministry also noted that the measures conflict with the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which requires the host country to grant entry to foreign representatives without fee or impediment.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry released a statement challenging Washington's rationale:

“This unjustified measure contradicts the efforts being made to restore trust, develop Palestinian-US relations, and prepare the necessary political climate for implementing the two-state solution and achieving peace and stability in the region.”

General Assembly vote and scheduled addresses

Following the visa denial, the Palestinian Authority submitted a draft resolution to the 193-member United Nations General Assembly to permit Abbas to address the body remotely. The assembly scheduled a vote on 17 September 2026 to authorize the video address for the high-level debate next week. Abbas's remote speech is scheduled for the same day as an address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The dispute follows last year's two-state conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, where 142 UN member states backed the recognition of a Palestinian state.