Palestinian president barred from travelling to New York for second consecutive year as Washington extends visa restrictions on Palestinian officials

WASHINGTON/RAMALLAH, September 17, 2026 — AALIMI NATION: The United States has again denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, preventing him from travelling to the annual gathering for the second consecutive year.

The U.S. State Department has also extended visa restrictions on officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) ahead of the General Assembly. A Palestinian official confirmed the visa refusal, according to Reuters.

The decision comes shortly before the high-level General Debate at the UN, where Abbas had been expected to address world leaders in person.

Washington Cites Palestinian Actions

The U.S. State Department said the PA and PLO had again failed to meet commitments required under U.S. law.

Washington cited Palestinian efforts to pursue the Israeli-Palestinian dispute through international institutions, including legal proceedings involving Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The administration also pointed to Palestinian efforts to seek recognition of a Palestinian state outside the framework of direct negotiations.

The State Department has framed the restrictions as part of its policy toward Palestinian officials and what it describes as actions that could undermine the U.S. approach to negotiations.

Second Consecutive Visa Denial

This is the second year in a row that Abbas has been prevented from travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly.

In 2025, the Trump administration revoked or denied visas for Abbas and numerous other Palestinian officials ahead of the annual UN gathering. Abbas subsequently addressed the General Assembly by video after the UN approved remote participation.

The latest decision means the Palestinian president again faces the possibility of addressing the assembly remotely rather than appearing in New York in person. Reuters reported that the General Assembly is expected to consider allowing Abbas to submit a video statement.

Palestinian Authority Criticises Decision

The Palestinian Authority has criticised Washington's decision, describing the visa restrictions as harmful to Palestinian-U.S. relations and the prospects for a two-state solution, according to Reuters.

The dispute comes amid continued international debate over Palestinian statehood and the future of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Abbas Calls for Two-State Solution

Abbas has repeatedly argued that a two-state solution based on international legitimacy remains the framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

During a visit to Egypt, he highlighted what he described as growing international support for Palestinian statehood and said diplomatic efforts would continue toward establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian leadership has increasingly pursued international diplomatic and legal avenues as negotiations with Israel remain stalled.

US Restrictions and Palestinian Representation

The latest visa decision does not prevent Palestinian representation at the United Nations altogether. Palestinian diplomats accredited to the UN continue to operate in New York, while the dispute concerns the ability of senior Palestinian officials affected by U.S. restrictions to enter the country.

The United States has also maintained broader restrictions affecting travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority under its current visa policy.

A Long-Running Dispute

Washington's decision has historical precedent.

In 1988, the United States refused a visa to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, preventing him from travelling to the United States to address the UN General Assembly. The UN subsequently held its General Assembly session in Geneva, where Arafat addressed the gathering.

The current dispute, however, comes at a particularly sensitive moment, with the international community debating Palestinian statehood, the future of Gaza and the broader framework for an Israeli-Palestinian political settlement.

For now, Abbas remains barred from travelling to New York for the General Assembly, while the UN is expected to consider arrangements that could allow him to address delegates remotely.