Washington: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas together with round 80 different Palestinian Authority officers. This determination got here simply earlier than the United Nations Common Meeting assembly subsequent month. The Palestinians have traditionally used this world platform to voice their considerations and political aspirations.
An unnamed U.S. State Division official confirmed the event to the Related Press on August 29, 2025, that President Abbas and several other prime Palestinian officers had been included on this wave of visa cancellations. The most recent transfer reveals the Trump administration’s method to limiting Palestinian entry to the US, notably by visa restrictions.
The choice was made at a time when tensions within the area are escalating. The Israeli army has declared Gaza’s largest metropolis a fight zone.
Along with the visa cancellations, the U.S. authorities has halted a programme that had beforehand allowed injured Palestinian youngsters from Gaza to obtain medical therapy in the US. This suspension adopted an outcry on social media from conservative teams.
The State Division additionally revealed that new visa functions from Palestinian officers, together with these related to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), would face elevated denials. The official assertion cited nationwide safety considerations and criticised Palestinian teams such because the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) for allegedly failing to honour commitments and for supposed actions perceived as undermining peace efforts.
“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 defined.
It added that for these teams to be seen as real peace companions, they need to “constantly repudiate terrorism and finish incitement to terrorism in training, as required by U.S. legislation and as promised by the PLO”.
Palestinian Authority Reacts
The Palestinian Authority responded sharply, condemning the visa revocations as a breach of worldwide legislation and the agreements that grant the US its function because the UN host nation.
The Palestinian presidency expressed “deep remorse and astonishment” on the transfer, stressing that it conflicts with the Headquarters Settlement and undermines their standing as an observer member of the United Nations.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric commented that the United Nations would search clarification from the U.S. State Division relating to the visa points. “We clearly hope that this will probably be resolved,” he stated, emphasising the significance of all member states and everlasting observers having the ability to take part totally in UN proceedings.
‘Continued UN Illustration Assured For Palestinian Mission’
The U.S. State Division assured that representatives assigned to the Palestinian Authority mission on the United Nations would obtain waivers below the U.S. host nation settlement. This may allow them to keep up their operational presence in New York regardless of the visa restrictions.
Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour confirmed that President Abbas plans to guide the Palestinian delegation on the upcoming UN conferences.
Abbas is predicted to ship a speech to the Common Meeting, a practice he has upheld for a few years. As well as, he’s scheduled to attend a high-level assembly on September 22, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, focussing on the two-state answer, a proposal advocating for Israel and Palestine to coexist as unbiased nations aspect by aspect.
The event alerts heightened diplomatic strains because the worldwide group prepares to convene on the United Nations. The visa revocations underline the complicated geopolitical challenges shaping the Center East, with implications for peace prospects, humanitarian efforts and worldwide diplomacy.