The United States has announced it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials planning to travel to New York next month to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the decision stems from concerns that Palestinian leaders are undermining peace efforts and pushing for “the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state.”
He added that before the Palestinian Authority (PA) or Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) can be considered partners for peace, they must:
- Reject terrorism
- Condemn the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel
- Halt efforts to pursue legal cases against Israel in international courts
(Source: BCC News)
Palestinian and UN Reactions
The office of PA President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the US decision, calling it a violation of international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement. It urged Washington to reverse the visa denials, noting that Palestine holds observer status at the UN, a position maintained since 1974.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that the organization will discuss the issue with the US State Department. He emphasized that all member states and permanent observers should be represented, particularly with a major meeting on the two-state solution scheduled during the General Assembly.
International Support for Palestinian Recognition
France, supported by the UK, Canada, and Australia, is leading efforts to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the UNGA session. Currently, 147 out of 193 UN member states already recognize Palestine.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the two-state solution, arguing that recognition of a Palestinian state would reward “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism.”
