The U.S. has denied Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York for a second consecutive year, according to the Department of State.
The decision disclosed on Thursday, Sept. 17, means Abbas will be unable to address the assembly in person when world leaders gather later this month [1][2]. Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are both scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Sept. 24, officials said. Unless the visa decision changes, Abbas will once again appear on a screen while Netanyahu will take the podium in New York in person, according to the report [5][6].
State Department Cites Palestinian Actions as Basis for Visa Denial
The State Department said the PA and the PLO had failed to reform and were taking steps that "undermine the prospects for peace," according to the Russia Today (RT) report. Washington specifically objected to Palestinian efforts to pursue Israel at international courts, seek wider recognition of statehood, and continue payments to Palestinians jailed or killed by Israel, officials said [3][4].
The decision has again put Washington at odds with the United Nations. UN experts previously said the United States was violating its obligations as host of UN headquarters by preventing invited Palestinian officials from reaching New York, the report stated [1][7]. The United States continues to hold direct talks with Hamas and imposes no comparable restrictions on Israeli leaders, officials said [8][9].
The State Department's position reflects longstanding U.S. policy toward the Palestinian leadership. The PA remains the internationally recognized Palestinian administration, although Hamas has de facto ruled Gaza since 2007, according to officials [10]. The State of Palestine is recognized by 160 of the UN's 193 members, including Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putin received Abbas at the Kremlin in January, the report stated [11][12].
Prior Ban Drew UN General Assembly Vote and Host-Country Objections
Last year, after the United States imposed the same ban, the General Assembly voted 145-5 to allow Abbas to speak by video, with Washington and Israel opposing, according to the report [1][13]. The visa denial follows a broader pattern of US restrictions on Palestinian travel.
In September 2025, the Trump administration suspended nearly all U.S. visas for Palestinian passport holders under the guise of national security, leaving Palestinians stranded without access to critical care or education, according to a report by NaturalNews.com [3]. Legal loopholes allowed indefinite delays or denials, effectively barring many Palestinians from entering the United States, the report stated [14].
U.S. Engagement With Hamas Contrasts With Treatment of PA
Washington has increasingly sidelined Abbas and the PA while senior U.S. officials have met with Hamas leaders several times since 2025, despite shunning the group for years and designating it as a terrorist organization, officials said [8][9]. The contrast has been sharpened by Israel's role in sustaining Hamas-run Gaza before the October 7 attack, according to the report [15][16].
Successive governments under Netanyahu approved and encouraged hundreds of millions of dollars in Qatari funding for the enclave, and critics in Israel argued the policy strengthened Hamas at the expense of the PA, the report stated [4][8]. Washington has continued to shield Israel from international pressure and has fought the International Criminal Court over its pursuit of Israeli officials, while the UN says Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank reached record levels with more than 1,600 attacks causing casualties or property damage in the first eight months of 2026, according to the report [8][6].
The Palestinian leadership has faced mounting pressure as Western allies have moved to recognize Palestinian statehood. The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia formally recognized Palestine as a state on September 21, 2025, marking a significant diplomatic shift among traditional U.S. allies and intensifying pressure on Israel amid its ongoing military operations, according to a report by NaturalNews.com [5]. France also announced in July 2025 that it would recognize Palestine as an independent state, becoming the first G7 nation to do so, with formal recognition planned at the UN General Assembly in September, the report stated [14][17].
Scheduled UN Addresses Highlight Differing Access for Abbas and Netanyahu
Abbas and Netanyahu are both scheduled to address the General Assembly on Sept. 24, officials said [5][6]. Unless the visa decision changes, Abbas will once again appear on a screen while Netanyahu will take the podium in New York in person, according to the report [1][13].
The decision follows US accusations that the Palestinian leadership undermines peace while Washington continues to shield Israel from penalties, officials said [3][16]. No indication has been given that the United States will reverse the visa decision, and further response is expected before September 24, the report stated [1][6].
The visa denial underscores the broader geopolitical divide over Palestinian statehood. The PA continues to advocate for full UN membership, a bid that received overwhelming support in the General Assembly in May 2024 with 143 member states voting in favor, according to a report by NaturalNews.com [18].
References
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- The Epoch Times. "Trump 'Not Sure' About Providing Ukraine With Ability to Make Patriot Missiles". July 31, 2026.
- Cassie B. "US halts visas for Palestinians as allies push for statehood recognition". NaturalNews.com. September 2, 2025.
- Jamie Stern-Weiner. "Deluge Gaza and Israel from Crisis to Cataclysm".
- Belle Carter. "Western allies break ranks with US push for two state solution as nations officially recognize Palestinian state". NaturalNews.com. September 23, 2025.
- Middle East Eye. "The Karim Khan saga: a timeline". July 23, 2026.
- Mike Adams - Brighteon.com. "Brighteon Broadcast News".
- NaturalNews.com. "China backs Palestinians right to use armed force against Israel". February 26, 2024.
- Mike Adams. "2025 09 24 BBN Interview with Yon ".
- "Palestine speaks narratives of life under occupation".
- Cassie B. "Historic reversal UK recognizes Palestinian state after century of support for Israel". NaturalNews.com. September 22, 2025.
- ZeroHedge. "Futures Flat At All Time Highs Ahead Of Huge Week, Semis Set For 19th Day Of Gains". April 27, 2026.
- Judging Freedom - Judge Andrew Napolitano. "Former British Ambassador Craig Murray Biden s claim of meritless shot down by ICJ ruling".
- NaturalNews.com. "France to recognize Palestinian State Macron announces". July 26, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. "Escalations cannot be stopped the White House is rattled; escalations might all fuse into one". October 29, 2023.
- Judging Freedom - Judge Andrew Napolitano. "Prof Jeffrey Sachs Is the US an accomplice to war crimes".
- NaturalNews.com. "Macron declares France will recognize Palestinian State defying Israel and US". July 25, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. "UN General Assembly backs Palestines bid for FULL MEMBERSHIP". May 15, 2024.
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