U.S. Denies Entry to Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas for UN Summit

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During a European Union meeting held in Copenhagen, several European foreign ministers echoed these concerns and encouraged the EU to oppose the US’ decision.

Abbas says decision violates key UN agreement

Abbas’ office said it was astonished by the visa decision and argued that it violated the UN “headquarters agreement”.

Under the 1947 agreement, the US is generally required to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York. Washington, however, has said it can deny visas for security, extremism and foreign policy reasons.

A statement from the department reiterated enduring US and Israeli claims that the PA and PLO have not adequately “repudiated terrorism” while advocating for “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state.

Palestinian officials reject such allegations and say that decades of US-mediated talks have failed to end Israeli occupation and secure an independent Palestinian state.

“(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 department said.

Governments typically send large delegations to the assembly. The restrictions could lead to a depleted Palestinian presence at the summit, at which several countries have pledged to formally declare their recognition of a Palestinian state.

The commitments from Western nations signal frustration with Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties. They also highlight discontent with Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, territory considered central to a prospective Palestinian state.

The United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has warned a “worst-case famine scenario” is unfolding for some of Gaza’s population of 2.1 million.

Earlier this month, the IPC determined that famine was occurring in Gaza City and was likely to spread to other parts of Gaza. The group said 514,000 people are experiencing famine, with the number expected to rise to 641,000 by the end of September.

Israel describes widespread hunger documented by aid agencies as “a Hamas-orchestrated starvation campaign”, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating: “There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza.”

Earlier this month, in a statement to SBS News, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) remarked: “The IDF forcefully rejects the allegation of deliberate starvation of the civilian population.”

Stéphane Dujarric, the UN’s spokesperson, said the UN would discuss the visa issue with the state department, “in line with UN Headquarters agreement between the UN and the US”.

The US also refused to issue a visa to PLO leader Yasser Arafat in 1988. The UN General Assembly met that year in Geneva instead of New York so he could address it.

The state department said it was demanding that the PA and PLO “consistently repudiate terrorism”, including the deadly October 2023 Hamas attack.

In June, Abbas, the Palestinian president, wrote a letter to France’s president in which he condemned the Hamas attack and called on hostages taken by the militant group to be released.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar welcomed the state department’s decision.

A Palestinian state is recognised by 147 of the 193 UN member states. The Palestinians currently have observer status at the UN, the same as the Holy See (Vatican).

The Palestinians have long sought a state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The US says a Palestinian state can only be established through direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

It was a position shared by Australia until August, when Prime Minister Albanese announced that Australia would join other nations in recognising a Palestinian state.

The United States has consistently criticised countries for moving to recognise a Palestinian state, and in 2024, it vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have granted Palestine full UN membership.