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The US State Department has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend this year’s UN General Assembly in New York, marking the second consecutive year of such a denial. Alongside Abbas, dozens of other Palestinian officials were also blocked from traveling by similar denials. The United States cites failure to meet commitments toward peace with Israel and ongoing activities that undermine peace prospects as reasons for the visa restrictions. Palestinians criticize this move as unjustified and detrimental to building trust and progressing towards a two-state solution.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Trump administration has once again denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other high-level Palestinian officials for the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. This marks the second consecutive year the US has blocked their attendance. The State Department cited failure to uphold previous agreements on peace with Israel, accusing Palestinian authorities of undermining prospects for peace through actions at international bodies and providing payments to individuals labeled as terrorists by the US and Israel. Abbas was expected to use his speech this year to advocate for international recognition of Palestinian statehood and address humanitarian crises in Gaza, as well as Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. The decision has drawn criticism from European governments who support Palestine's right to be heard at international forums like the UN General Assembly.
Written for “US Visa Denial Palestinian Officials UN” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 15594 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-17
The Palestinian Authority has condemned a US decision to deny visas to President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of officials ahead of next week's UN General Assembly, marking the second consecutive year Washington has blocked his attendance.
asserted
Washington → condemn → attendance
The Palestinian Authority on Thursday sharply criticised a decision by the United States to deny visas to its officials ahead of next week's UN General Assembly in New York, a measure that also affects its president Mahmoud Abbas.
asserted
that → criticise → president
In a statement, the Palestinian foreign ministry called it "an unjustified measure that runs counter to efforts to rebuild trust, develop Palestinian–US relations, and create the necessary political climate for implementing the two-state solution and achieving peace and stability".
asserted
that → call → peace
The decision marks the second consecutive year in which Abbas has been prevented from traveling to New York for the General Assembly, after a similar visa denial last year forced him to address the meeting by video instead.
asserted
denial → mark → video
The State Department said Palestinian officials, including Abbas, had failed to live up to their commitments under previous agreements to seek peace with Israel.
asserted
officials → say → Israel
In its statement, the department said that "as a consequence of their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace, the United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials."
asserted
that → say → members
The restrictions extend beyond Abbas himself.
asserted
restrictions → extend → Abbas
Similar rejections were issued to dozens of other Palestinian Authority officials who had hoped to travel with him.
asserted
who → issue → him
According to the Times of Israel, one notice seen by a Palestinian official cited Section 212(a)(3)(B) of US immigration law, which prohibits issuing a visa to anyone who has engaged in terrorist activities or been associated with a terrorist organisation.
uncertain
who → accord → organisation
Despite the ban, Palestinian representation at the summit will not disappear entirely.
asserted
representation → disappear → summit
The Palestinians will still be represented at next week's high-level meeting by diplomats already accredited to the United Nations, and Abbas is expected to again appear by video.
asserted
Abbas → represent → video
The US State Department's statement also noted that it would maintain a waiver allowing members of the Palestinian Mission to the UN to continue operating from New York.
asserted
members → note → York
The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on a measure that would once again allow Abbas to participate remotely, a mechanism it first used last year.
asserted
it → expect → mechanism
The renewed visa denial comes at a politically sensitive moment as a number of key members are expected to recognise a Palestinian state at this year's General Assembly.
asserted
number → renew → Assembly
In 2025 France officially recognized the State of Palestine, joined by the United Kingdom, Australia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, Malta and Canada.
asserted
France → recognize → Kingdom
Four of the five permament UN Security Council members now recognize Palestine.
asserted
Four → recognize → Palestine
When Washington first imposed the restriction last year, the move drew criticism from European governments including Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez who described the visa decision as "unjust", writing on X that "Palestine has the right to make its voice heard at the United Nations and in all international forums".
asserted
voice → impose → forums
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