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7h ago

U.S. Bars Mahmoud Abbas From UN General Assembly With Extended Visa Sanctions

Washington says the PLO and Palestinian Authority have 'internationalized' the conflict and violated U.S. commitments, a rationale that keeps Abbas out of New York while accredited Palestinian diplomats remain at the UN.

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In a statement that did not mention Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas by name, the US State Department said it would deny visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and officials with the Palestinian Authority (PA)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stands with Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar Rivera, not shown, at the State Department, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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Overview

  • The State Department on Wednesday, September 17, 2026, extended visa sanctions that cover Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority officials and explicitly apply to President Mahmoud Abbas.
  • U.S. officials said the move responds to Palestinian actions at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, efforts to secure unilateral recognition and continued payments or glorification tied to attackers.
  • The administration preserved a standing waiver for personnel notified to the PLO Observer Mission so accredited Palestinian diplomats can operate at UN headquarters and the Palestinians plan a remote address for Abbas as they did in 2025.
  • At the same time the U.S. approved visas for Iran’s core UN delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but imposed tight travel limits and bans on certain purchases.
  • The decision drew international criticism, with France urging reconsideration and Palestinian officials calling it unjustified, and it raises new tensions over U.S. host‑country discretion under the UN headquarters agreement and the General Assembly’s handling of remote participation.