NEW YORK — The Trump administration has denied visas for a high-level Palestinian delegation to attend the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was among the officials denied visas.

This marks the second consecutive year that visas have been denied for the Palestinian delegation to attend the UN General Assembly. The U.S. State Department stated that Palestinian officials failed to live up to commitments under previous agreements to seek peace with Israel.

In a statement, the State Department outlined the legal basis for the decision. "As a consequence of their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace, the United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials" in accordance with standing U.S. law.

The department cited several specific actions by the Palestinian Authority as reasons for the visa denials. These included the pursuit of legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Officials also pointed to the continued payment of stipends to the families of prisoners convicted of attacks against Israelis.

Additional factors included attempts by Palestinian officials to obtain unilateral recognition rather than pursue negotiations. The State Department also cited the glorification of terrorism in public statements and school textbooks as a factor in the decision. "It is in our national interest to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for glorifying terrorism," the department stated.

The Palestinians will be represented at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly high-level meeting by diplomats who are already accredited to the United Nations. The State Department maintained an existing waiver for personnel formally assigned to the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations.

Why It Matters

The visa denials occur as the UN General Assembly considers measures regarding Palestinian participation. The assembly is expected to vote on a measure that would allow Abbas to participate remotely. This follows a precedent set last year when member states adopted a special resolution allowing Abbas to submit a prerecorded address to be played in the General Assembly Hall.

The previous resolution passed by 145 votes to five, with six abstentions. Israel and the United States were among the five countries voting against the resolution allowing remote participation for Abbas. That resolution applied only to the 80th session and explicitly stated that it should not establish a precedent for future General Assembly debates or high-level meetings.

Timeline

On March 12, 2025, DHS issued an interim final rule (IFR) with request for comments amending DHS regulations to designate a new registration form for aliens to comply with statutory alien registration and fingerprinting provisions. Unregistered aliens may use this general registration form to satisfy their statutory obligations.

Last year, UN member states adopted a special resolution allowing Abbas to submit a prerecorded address to be played in the General Assembly Hall. The resolution allowing remote participation for Abbas passed by 145 votes to five, with six abstentions.

The resolution allowing remote participation applied only to the 80th session and explicitly stated that it should not establish a precedent for future General Assembly debates or high-level meetings. Abbas appeared by video at the U.N. General Assembly last year.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates the State Department reported to Congress that the PLO and PA failed to meet commitments under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002. The department stated, "It is in our national interest to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for glorifying terrorism." Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said, "Abu Mazen cannot continue paying terrorists, rewarding the families of terrorists and promoting a culture that glorifies terrorism, and then be surprised when doors are closed to him." The State Department cited attempts by Palestinian officials to obtain unilateral recognition rather than pursue negotiations as a factor in the decision. The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on a measure that would allow Abbas to participate remotely.