The European Union and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have urged the United States to reconsider its decision to deny entry visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation for the UN General Assembly in New York. The US State Department extended visa sanctions, citing the Palestinian Authority's failure to reform and its unilateral statehood bids. Consequently, the UN General Assembly voted 152-3 to allow Abbas to deliver his address via a prerecorded video.
US visa denial Palestinian delegation
- ▪The United States visa denial prevents Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation from attending the United Nations General Assembly session in New York starting September 22, 2026.
- ▪The United States Department of State announced on September 16, 2026 that it would extend visa sanctions denying entry to Palestinian Authority officials and Palestine Liberation Organization members
- ▪The administration of United States President Donald Trump also denied entry visas to the Palestinian delegation for the United Nations General Assembly in 2025.
EU criticism US decision
- ▪The European Union urged the United States to reconsider its visa denial in light of its existing headquarters agreements with the United Nations and its obligations as the host state.
- ▪The European Union diplomatic service spokesman Anouar El Anouni stated that the bloc regrets the United States' decision to deny visas to the Palestinian delegation for a second consecutive year.
UN Secretary-General concerns
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret on September 18, 2026, regarding the United States' decision to deny visas to the Palestinian delegation to the UN General Assembly
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern that the United States visa denial to the Palestinian delegation would negatively impact the ability of the State of Palestine to participate fully in United Nations work
US justification PA actions
- ▪The Palestinian Authority recently reformed its payment system to allocate welfare payments to families on a needs basis rather than political affiliation or prisoner status.
- ▪The United States State Department stated that Washington opposes Palestinian actions to internationalize the conflict through the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice to bypass direct negotiations.
- ▪The United States State Department justified the visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and PLO members by accusing the Palestinian Authority of failing to reform and continuing to pay stipends to individuals labeled as terrorists
Palestinian statehood recognition push
- ▪Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's planned address to the UN General Assembly is expected to advocate for international recognition of Palestinian statehood and highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
- ▪The United Nations General Assembly voted 152-3 on September 17, 2026, to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the 81st session via a prerecorded video statement.
- ▪The United States remains at odds with 142 United Nations member states that formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2026.
West Bank settler violence
- ▪The United States decision to deny Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa occurred amid escalating violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
- ▪No Israeli officials face equivalent United States travel restrictions, despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
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