US Denies Visa for Mahmoud Abbas for UN General Assembly for Second Consecutive Year

The United States is reported to have once again refused to grant entry visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, scheduled for next week. This move marks the second consecutive year that the Palestinian leader has been prohibited from setting foot at the UN headquarters.

According to reports from two Palestinian sources to the BBC, this decision was made after the US announced an expansion of visa sanctions against Palestinian officials. Although Washington did not explicitly name Abbas, it accused these officials of failing to meet commitments within the peace process.

These sanctions are a continuation of a policy initiated in August last year, which saw 80 Palestinian officials barred from attending the UN’s annual meetings. In its official statement, the US accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) of glorifying terrorism and attempting to internationalise the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Under the UN Headquarters Agreement, the US is legally obligated to provide access to foreign diplomats at the UN headquarters in New York. However, Washington insists it possesses the authority to refuse visas based on security reasons, extremism, and foreign policy interests.

Palestinian authorities previously condemned this move as a clear violation of international law. During last year’s session, Abbas was forced to deliver his speech via video recording. The 193 UN member states are scheduled to vote on Thursday (17/9) to determine whether Abbas will be permitted to speak via video again this year.

This visa denial occurs amidst a worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The UN continues to warn of the dire conditions for civilians despite ceasefire efforts, as Israeli airstrikes are reported to continue hitting densely populated areas.