U.S. revokes visas of Palestinian president, other officials ahead of UN General Assembly

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 different officers forward of subsequent month’s annual high-level assembly of the UN Common Meeting, the place the Palestinians beforehand have been represented.

A State Division official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate visa points which might be usually confidential, disclosed Friday (August 29, 2025) that Abbas and different officers from the Palestinian Authority had been amongst these affected.

The transfer is the newest in a sequence of steps the Trump administration has taken to focus on Palestinians with visa restrictions and comes because the Israeli navy declared Gaza’s largest metropolis a fight zone. The State Division additionally suspended a program that had allowed injured Palestinian youngsters from Gaza to come back to the U.S. for medical remedy after a social media outcry by some conservatives.

The division mentioned in an announcement earlier that Mr. Rubio additionally ordered some new visa functions from Palestinian officers, together with these tied to the Palestine Liberation Organisation, be denied.

“It’s in our nationwide safety pursuits to carry the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the assertion mentioned.

It mentioned that to be thought of companions for peace, the teams “should constantly repudiate terrorism, and finish incitement to terrorism in training, as required by U.S. regulation and as promised by the PLO.”

The State Division did not specify what number of visas had been revoked or what number of functions had been denied, or give particulars past its assertion.

The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments because the host nation of the United Nations and urged the State Division to reverse its choice.

It mentioned in an announcement that the Palestinian presidency “expressed its deep remorse and astonishment” on the visa choice, which “contravenes worldwide regulation and the Headquarters Settlement, particularly for the reason that State of Palestine is an observer member of the United Nations.”

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric mentioned the world physique could be searching for clarification from the State Division.

“We clearly hope that this will likely be resolved,” he mentioned. “It can be crucial that every one member states, everlasting observers have the ability to be represented.”

The State Division mentioned representatives assigned to the Palestinian Authority mission on the United Nations could be granted waivers below the U.S. host nation settlement with the UN to allow them to proceed their New York-based operations.

The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, informed reporters Friday (August 29, 2025) that Abbas deliberate to guide the delegation to the UN conferences and was anticipated to handle the Common Meeting — as he has performed for a few years.

He was additionally anticipated to attend a high-level assembly co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on September 22 a few two-state answer, which requires Israel dwelling side-by-side with an impartial Palestine.