Overview

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered visas denied and revoked for members of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, with waivers only for permanent staff and dependents at the Palestinian U.N. mission under the Headquarters Agreement.
• Officials acknowledged the step is without recent precedent for barring an entire delegation, noting that past U.S. denials were typically handled case by case.
• The restrictions may block Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior figures from attending or speaking at the General Assembly, and Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour said they are reviewing the decision and urged a reversal.
• Internal guidance argues that unilateral recognition pushes and legal actions at the ICC and ICJ undermine ceasefire negotiations, and U.S. officials say the visa bans could be lifted if the PA ends incitement and withdraws unilateral bids.
• The announcement comes as France leads a statehood recognition drive, with Canada, Australia and the U.K. signaling plans at the U.N., drawing praise from Israeli officials and prompting concerns at the U.N. about Palestinian representation.