Washington, DC [US], August 30 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that the United States would not issue visas to Palestinian officials, barring them from attending the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York next month.
According to a statement from the US Department of State, the visa restrictions apply to officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) who are not part of the Palestinian mission to the UN.
“In accordance with US law, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. The Trump Administration has been clear: 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 read.
The Department of State emphasized that the Palestinian Authority must end its affiliation with terrorism and openly condemn it.
“Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism—including the October 7 massacre—and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by US law and as promised by the PLO. The PA must also end its attempts to bypass negotiations through international lawfare campaigns, including appeals to the ICC and ICJ, and efforts to secure unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state. Both steps materially contributed to Hamas’s refusal to release its hostages and to the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire talks,” the statement added.
The Department also noted that while the Palestinian mission would receive waivers under the UN Headquarters Agreement, it must still comply with US laws. “The PA Mission to the UN will receive waivers per the UN Headquarters Agreement. The United States remains open to re-engagement that is consistent with our laws, should the PA/PLO meet their obligations and demonstrably take concrete steps to return to a constructive path of compromise and peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel,” it said.
The Trump administration has previously sanctioned members of the PA and PLO, accusing them of “glorification of violence” and “undermining peace,” Al Jazeera reported.
It was not immediately clear which officials the denials would apply to, as UN members and non-member observers, such as Palestine, typically send large delegations to the UNGA, according to Al Jazeera.
Palestinian Authority Mission to the UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour confirmed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to attend the UN gathering next month, which is scheduled to include a segment on September 22 dedicated to Palestinian rights. Mansour said it was unclear whether the US move would affect Abbas’s planned visit. (ANI)
About The Author
