Overview

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered visas denied and revoked for PLO and Palestinian Authority officials ahead of September’s U.N. General Assembly, preventing senior leaders from addressing the forum.
• The decision follows findings that the PA and PLO are out of compliance with U.S. law for unilateral statehood moves, glorifying violence, promoting antisemitism, and providing material support to terrorists.
• Internal guidance recommends rejecting new applications, declining a waiver for Mahmoud Abbas, and revoking visas issued before July 31, with denials running for at least 180 days.
• Waivers will be limited to permanent staff and dependents at the Palestinian U.N. Observer Mission in line with U.S. obligations under the U.N. Headquarters Agreement.
• Officials describe the step as unprecedented and cite reports of a planned ‘constitutional declaration’ of independence at the General Assembly, characterizing the action as a low‑cost, high‑impact measure.