U.S. denies visas to Palestinian delegation for 2nd year in a row for UN assembly in New York

The Trump administration has denied visas for a high-level Palestinian delegation to attend an annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations for the second year in a row.

State Deptartment said Palestinian Authority failed to live up to commitments for peace with Israel

The Associated Press

· Posted: Sep 16, 2026 9:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 16 minutes ago

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The Trump administration has denied visas for a high-level Palestinian delegation to attend an annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations for the second year in a row.

The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that Palestinian officials, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, had failed to live up to their commitments under previous agreements to seek peace with Israel.

In a statement, the department said the Palestinian Authority had continued to pursue legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC) and kept paying stipends to the families of prisoners convicted of attacks against Israelis. It also mentioned officials tied to the Palestine Liberation Organization, or PLO.

"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 said.

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U.S. blocks Palestinian leadership visas for UN General Assembly

August 30, 2025|

Duration 2:55

The United States says it won’t allow Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian leaders entry into the country for the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, prompting criticism from world leaders. Canada and several other countries have said they're prepared to recognize Palestinian statehood at the September meeting.

The move is the latest by the Trump administration to restrict visas and it further signals the close U.S. alliance with Israel, which has faced international isolation over its war in Gaza following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. A fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire took hold in October, but Israel has continued to carry out strikes in the Palestinian territory.

It also comes as the Trump administration has launched a campaign to dismantle the ICC, accusing it of trying to unfairly prosecute U.S. and Israeli soldiers for alleged crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza. Israel and the United States are not members of the global tribunal.

Despite the visa denials, the Palestinians will still be represented at next week's high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly by their diplomats who are already accredited to the United Nations. Last year, Abbas appeared by video.