US again denies Palestinian leaders visa ahead of UN meeting

The United States has barred officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.

The State Department, in a media note on Wednesday, asserted that the PA, Palestine’s interim governing body, and the PLO “failed to live up” to their obligations.

In its report to Congress, the Department cited the breach of the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002.

The U.S. further listed initiation and support for international actions that undermine and contradict prior pledges highlighted in Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

Washington decried the steps to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The PA and PLO were also reprimanded for seeking unilateral recognition, paying stipends to terrorists, and glorifying “acts of terrorism and terrorists” in comments and school textbooks.

“The United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials in accordance with section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA,” the statement reads.

It called the decision a “consequence of their failure to reform,” contrary to commitments to the U.S., and “ongoing activities” that subvert the prospects for peace.

The development means President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian leaders cannot attend the UN General Assembly slated for September 22 to 26.

The Trump administration imposed a similar restriction in August 2025, when 80 Palestinian officials were denied visas for the annual UN high-level conference.