US denies UN visas to Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian delegation again

The Trump administration has denied UN visas to Mahmoud Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials for next week's meeting. The move deepens Washington's pressure on Palestinian leaders while reaffirming support for Israel during the Gaza war.

In Short

• State Department cited broken peace commitments and unreformed Palestinian Authority policies
• Washington objected to cases pursued against Israel at global courts
• US also criticised stipends paid to families of convicted attackers

The Trump administration has denied visas to a high-level Palestinian delegation for next week’s annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations, marking the second year in a row that such visas have been refused. The US State Department said Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, had not met commitments under previous agreements to seek peace with Israel.

Despite the visa denial, the Palestinians will still be represented at the high-level UN General Assembly meeting by diplomats already accredited to the United Nations. The move is the latest visa restriction by the Trump administration and comes amid Washington’s continued backing of Israel during the war in Gaza.

In a statement on Wednesday, the State Department said the Palestinian Authority had continued to pursue legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, and had kept paying stipends to the families of prisoners convicted of attacks against Israelis. It also referred to officials linked to the Palestine Liberation Organization, or PLO.

“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” in accordance with standing US law, the department said.

The decision also comes as the Trump administration has stepped up its campaign against the ICC, accusing it of trying to unfairly prosecute US and Israeli soldiers for alleged crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza. Israel and the United States are not members of the tribunal.

The visa denial comes as Israel faces international isolation over its war in Gaza following the deadly October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. A fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States took effect in October, but Israel has continued to carry out strikes in the Palestinian territory.

Last year, Abbas addressed the meeting by video. This year, while he and other senior Palestinian officials will not attend in person because of the visa denial, Palestinian diplomats at the UN will represent them at the gathering.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends