US Denies Visas to Palestinian Authority Officials for Second Consecutive Year, Forcing Mahmoud Abbas to Speak Virtually at UN General Assembly

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas looks on during a press conference at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, on August 12. Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images

For the second consecutive year, the US has barred officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) from entering the country to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Consequently, PA President Mahmoud Abbas will deliver his address at this week's event via a virtual format.

Last week, the US State Department announced it would withhold visas for PA officials, citing ongoing actions that it claims hinder the peace process within the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. According to the State Department, these activities involve efforts to internationalize the conflict through bodies like the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, alongside the continued provision of stipends to terrorists and the public glorification of terrorism in statements and school textbooks.

In response, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry criticized the US decision as unjustified, arguing that it damages initiatives aimed at restoring trust, enhancing Palestinian-American relations, and promoting the two-state solution.

"We firmly reject the claim that pursuing Palestinian rights through the United Nations and international courts undermines peace. Resorting to international law and institutions is a legitimate and peaceful means of protecting our rights," the ministry stated.

Established in 1993, the Palestinian Authority is officially tasked with governing the West Bank and Gaza, though the militant group Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip in recent decades, as noted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Headquartered in Ramallah in the West Bank, the PA includes various Palestinian factions while excluding militant groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to the CFR.

Mahmoud Abbas faces widespread unpopularity among Palestinians. Having led the PA since the 2004 death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, he has maintained his position despite criticisms regarding his democratic legitimacy. In a 2025 letter, Abbas condemned the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel led by Hamas and committed to conducting elections and reforming the PA, based on excerpts provided to CNN.

Reporting was contributed by CNN's Ibrahim Dahman, Nadeen Ebrahim, and Abeer Salman.