U.S. Again Denies Visa to Palestinian President Abbas Ahead of UN General Assembly

The United States has once again denied a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials, preventing them from traveling to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. A source familiar with the matter confirmed to AFP that the travel restriction covers Mr. Abbas, who is a regular participant at the annual gathering of global leaders.

In an official statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the U.S. State Department did not mention Mr. Abbas by name. However, the agency announced that it would deny entry visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and officials with the Palestinian Authority (PA). The State Department attributed the decision to what it described as a failure by the organizations to enact required reforms, ongoing activities that allegedly undermine prospects for peace, and actions taken within international bodies such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Washington also cited ongoing historical concerns regarding welfare payments made by the Palestinian Authority, along with claims that Palestinian leadership has sought unilateral recognition and pursued actions that contradict prior commitments. The Trump administration implemented a similar visa denial last year, which also required Mr. Abbas to address the UN General Assembly remotely via video.

In response to the U.S. decision, the United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday, September 17, 2026, to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the high-level meeting via video. The resolution passed with 152 votes in favour, three votes against, and four abstentions. The measure also permits Mr. Abbas and other high-level Palestinian officials to participate in UN meetings and conferences remotely over the next year if they are blocked from traveling to the United States.

Palestinian officials strongly condemned the U.S. travel restriction. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour rejected the move before the General Assembly. Additionally, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Thursday calling the visa denial an unjustified measure that contradicts efforts to rebuild trust, improve bilateral relations, and establish a political climate necessary for implementing a two-state solution.

The Palestinian Ministry also expressed astonishment at the U.S. statement, arguing that it disregarded substantive administrative, financial, legal, educational, and social welfare reforms carried out by the State of Palestine through clear and verifiable mechanisms. The Palestinian Authority recently reformed its welfare system to distribute financial support to families based on demonstrated needs rather than prisoner status or political affiliation—a core objection previously raised by the U.S. and Israel regarding historical stipends.

The diplomatic development comes amid broader international friction. Last year, 142 UN member states, including France, endorsed a Palestinian state following a conference on a two-state solution co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, tensions in the region remain elevated, marked by ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and increased violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks.