Overview

• The State Department revoked or refused visas for nearly 80 PA and PLO figures ahead of September’s UN gathering, with diplomats at the Palestinian UN mission exempt under their special status.
• Officials said the step serves U.S. security interests and responds to what they call Palestinian “lawfare” at the ICC and ICJ, while signaling openness to renewed contacts if concrete steps are taken.
• Palestinian leaders voiced deep regret and called the move contrary to international law, urging the U.S. to reverse it, with reports noting the restrictions could prevent Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly thanked the Trump administration for the decision, as UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the importance of Palestinian representation at a pre-UNGA summit.
• France criticized the restrictions as limiting access to UN headquarters and Luxembourg proposed a special Geneva session, as Paris advances a drive to recognize a Palestinian state at the General Assembly.