WASHINGTON, Aug 30 – The United States has announced that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will not be permitted to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, a decision that has stirred outrage among Palestinian officials and drawn sharp criticism from several Western governments. Alongside Abbas, nearly 80 other Palestinian officials have also had their visas denied or revoked, effectively barring them from joining high-level meetings in September.
The move comes at a crucial moment when a number of Washington’s allies, including Britain, France, Australia, and Canada, are preparing to formally recognize Palestine as a state. For the Palestinian leadership, the UN gathering was expected to be a historic opportunity to gain momentum for their decades-long pursuit of sovereignty. Instead, the visa restrictions have sparked diplomatic tensions and ignited debates over the United States’ obligations under international agreements.
Washington’s Decision and Palestinian Response
Palestinian officials expressed deep anger at the U.S. move, calling it a blatant violation of the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement. This agreement requires the United States, as host country, to allow access for foreign representatives attending official UN meetings. While the U.S. has previously argued that it retains the right to deny visas on grounds of security, extremism, or broader foreign policy concerns, critics say that the current decision undermines the very principles of international diplomacy.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, condemned the decision and urged Washington to reverse it. He stressed that the United States cannot use its host status to prevent a delegation from addressing the international community, particularly on issues that directly involve global peace and security. Palestinian officials said the timing of the decision was deliberate, as it comes just weeks before a UN session where major powers are expected to support Palestinian statehood.
Abbas’ office released a statement describing the move as “astonishing,” underscoring that the U.S. action contradicts international law and directly hinders Palestine’s right to participate in multilateral forums. Despite the restrictions, Palestinian leaders vowed to continue pushing for recognition and to rally support from allies who have already voiced opposition to Washington’s decision.
The State Department defended the move, claiming that both the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have not shown a consistent rejection of extremism. According to officials, granting visas to their leaders would contradict U.S. national security interests, particularly in light of ongoing tensions related to the Gaza conflict and allegations that Palestinian authorities have undermined peace efforts.
Growing International Support for Palestine
The U.S. position has not gone unchallenged. Several European governments expressed concern over what they described as an unjustified barrier to international diplomacy. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stressed that participation in the UN General Assembly should not be limited by the host nation’s unilateral restrictions. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris also urged the European Union to issue a strong protest, while Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the U.S. move as “unjust,” reaffirming that Palestine has the right to present its case at global platforms.
This growing chorus of support reflects mounting frustration over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead and deepened humanitarian suffering. It also signals discontent with Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank, a territory seen as the heart of a potential Palestinian state. For many governments, recognizing Palestinian statehood is increasingly viewed as a necessary step to counterbalance Israeli actions and to revive prospects for peace.
Currently, Palestine is recognized as a state by 147 out of the 193 member nations of the United Nations. The upcoming assembly could mark a turning point as more influential Western nations consider formal recognition. While Palestine already holds observer status at the UN—similar to the Vatican—upgrading its status to full membership would significantly strengthen its diplomatic standing.
The United States insists that the creation of a Palestinian state should only come through direct talks with Israel. Both Washington and Tel Aviv argue that unilateral recognition undermines the peace process and emboldens extremist groups. Israeli officials welcomed the U.S. visa restrictions, framing them as a necessary measure to hold Palestinian leaders accountable for what they describe as repeated failures to reject violence and adhere to past agreements.
Palestinian leaders counter that decades of negotiations have produced little progress, leaving them with no choice but to pursue international recognition. President Abbas has previously condemned violent actions, including attacks carried out by Hamas, and has called for the release of hostages. Yet, despite these statements, the U.S. continues to link the PA and PLO to broader concerns about terrorism.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that discussions are underway with Washington regarding the visa restrictions. He recalled that in 1988, when Yasser Arafat was denied a U.S. visa, the General Assembly relocated its meeting to Geneva to ensure that the Palestinian leader could address the international community. That precedent, he noted, shows that the UN must safeguard the right of all representatives to participate in its deliberations.
As the debate intensifies, the dispute underscores a widening rift between the U.S. and several of its closest allies over the question of Palestine. For Washington, the restrictions reflect a firm stance on security and policy alignment with Israel. For much of the world, however, the move is viewed as an unjust attempt to silence Palestinian voices at a critical moment.