US again denies Palestinian leader visa for UN General Assembly in New York

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Published: 2026-09-17T03:04:58.057Z • Permanent link

US State Department officials have denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend next week's UN General Assembly in New York, a source familiar with the matter revealed on Wednesday. The decision marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two entities, which have been locked in a decades-long dispute over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abbas, who has been a key player in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, has been seeking to use the UN General Assembly as a platform to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to reaffirm Palestinian claims to statehood.

According to sources, the US decision was made after a thorough review of Abbas's travel history and ties to the Palestinian Authority, which has been subject to significant US sanctions in recent years. The move is likely to be seen as a major blow to Abbas's efforts to promote Palestinian interests at the international level, and is likely to further isolate the Palestinian Authority from the international community. Abbas, who has been a key figure in the Palestinian Authority since its establishment in 1994, has long been a vocal critic of Israeli settlement expansion and has called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

US officials have maintained that the decision to deny Abbas a visa was made in accordance with US law, which prohibits the entry of individuals who have been convicted of crimes against humanity or who have engaged in activities deemed to be a threat to national security. The US has also maintained that it will continue to engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but has made it clear that it will not be swayed by pressure from external actors to change its stance on the issue.

The denial of Abbas's visa has significant implications for the Palestinian Authority, which relies heavily on international support to fund its operations and promote Palestinian interests. The move is likely to be seen as a major blow to the Authority's efforts to gain recognition as a sovereign state, and may further erode its ability to negotiate with Israel on behalf of the Palestinian people. For US companies operating in the Middle East, the move is likely to have significant implications for business operations in the region, as it may lead to increased tensions between the US and the Palestinian Authority.

The denial of Abbas's visa also has significant implications for research communities and markets in the region. The Palestinian Authority has been a key player in the development of the Middle East peace process, and its absence from the UN General Assembly may lead to a decrease in international interest in the region. This, in turn, may lead to a decrease in investment and tourism in the region, which could have significant economic implications for countries such as Jordan and Egypt, which have historically been major recipients of international aid and investment.

The denial of Abbas's visa is part of a larger pattern of escalating tensions between the US and the Palestinian Authority, which has been marked by increased tensions and diplomatic efforts in recent years. In 2019, the US announced its decision to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which was met with widespread criticism from the international community. The move was seen as a major blow to the Palestinian Authority's efforts to promote Palestinian interests at the international level, and was widely seen as a significant escalation in tensions between the US and the Palestinian Authority.