U.S. denies visa for Palestinian representative to attend UNGA; EU urges U.S. to reconsider

U.S. denies visa for Palestinian representative to attend UNGA; EU urges U.S. to reconsider

The United States administration of President Donald Trump has announced the denial and revocation of visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September. The move, which was made in a statement released by the US Department of State on Friday, has sparked international controversy and calls for reconsideration from the European Union [1].

The US statement cited national security interests and the need for accountability from the PLO and PA, accusing them of terrorism and undermining peace prospects. The PLO and PA serve as representatives for the Palestinian people and advocate for the recognition of a Palestinian state on the global stage. The Trump administration had previously sanctioned members of these organizations for similar reasons [1].

The US Department of State announced that it would grant waivers to the Palestinian Authority Mission to the UN, currently led by Ambassador Riyad Mansour. Mansour stated that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to attend the UN gathering, despite the visa denials. The Palestinian Authority presidency expressed deep regret and astonishment at the decision, urging the US to reconsider [1].

The US's move to deny visas to Palestinian officials is expected to be controversial. As a host state, the US is traditionally obligated to grant visas to UN member-state representatives attending the UN headquarters in New York. In the past, the US has denied visas to high-profile officials, including then PLO chairman Yasser Arafat in 1988 and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2013 [1].

The European Union has urged the US to reconsider its decision, stating that it undermines the UN's efforts to promote peace and security. The EU emphasized that the UNGA is a critical forum for international dialogue and cooperation [2].

References:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/29/us-denies-visas-for-palestinian-officials-ahead-of-un-assembly
[2] https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/09/01/european-union-urges-us-to-reconsider-denial-of-visas-for-palestinian-officials