US revokes visas of Palestinian president and other officials ahead of
UN General Assembly
[August 30, 2025]
By MATTHEW LEE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas
of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of
next month’s annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, a
step the Palestinian Authority decried as against international law.
A State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to
discuss visa issues that are normally confidential, disclosed Friday
that Abbas and other officials from the Palestinian Authority were among
those affected by new visa restrictions. Palestinian representatives
assigned to the U.N. mission, however, were granted exceptions.
The move is the latest in a series of steps the Trump administration has
taken to target Palestinians with visa restrictions and comes as the
Israeli military declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone. The State
Department also suspended a program that had allowed injured Palestinian
children from Gaza to come to the U.S. for medical treatment after a
social media outcry by some conservatives.
The State Department said in a statement that Rubio also ordered some
new visa applications from Palestinian officials, including those tied
to the Palestine Liberation Organization, be denied.
“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA
accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for
undermining the prospects for peace,” the statement said.
It said that to be considered partners for peace, the groups “must
consistently repudiate terrorism, and end incitement to terrorism in
education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO.”
The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation
of U.S. commitments as the host country of the United Nations and urged
the State Department to reverse its decision.
It said in a statement that the Palestinian presidency “expressed its
deep regret and astonishment” at the visa decision, which “contravenes
international law and the Headquarters Agreement, especially since the
State of Palestine is an observer member of the United Nations.”
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 79th session of
the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 26, 2024, at U.N.
headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the world body would be
seeking clarification from the State Department.
“We obviously hope that this will be resolved,” he said. “It is
important that all member states, permanent observers be able to be
represented.”
The State Department said representatives assigned to the
Palestinian Authority mission at the United Nations would be granted
waivers under the U.S. host country agreement with the U.N. so they
can continue their New York-based operations.
The Trump administration has pursued a crackdown on some of those
who have legal permission to come to the U.S., and at times the
standard for releasing once-privileged information on canceled visas
seems to have been relaxed to make a public point.
For instance, the State Department’s No. 2 diplomat posted on social
media when the U.S. pulled visas for British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan
after they led crowds in chanting “death” to the Israeli military.
The Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., Riyad Mansour, told
reporters Friday that Abbas had planned to lead the delegation to
the U.N. meetings and had been expected to address the General
Assembly — as he has done for many years.
He also had been expected to attend a high-level meeting co-chaired
by France and Saudi Arabia on Sept. 22 about a two-state solution,
which calls for Israel living side-by-side with an independent
Palestine.
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Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations
contributed to this report.
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