The United States has reportedly denied a visa to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, along with revoking visas for a number of other Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials. A State Department spokesperson confirmed Abbas is among approximately 80 individuals affected by the decision.
While the Palestinian Authority’s mission to the United Nations is expected to receive exemptions under the UN Headquarters Agreement, the denial of a visa to Abbas could be viewed as a potential breach of that agreement, given the United Nations’ recognition of Palestine as an observer state. The measure is anticipated to significantly limit the presence of Palestinian representatives at the annual global summit, occurring against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and as several Western nations consider recognizing a Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Presidency issued a statement expressing “deep regret and astonishment” regarding the State Department’s decision and called on the United States to reconsider and reverse it. Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, stated they would carefully assess the implications of the decision and its application to the delegation in order to determine an appropriate response.
