NEW YORK (BN24) — The United States announced it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials planning to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, a rare move that challenges long-standing diplomatic norms and draws sharp criticism from international observers and Palestinian leaders.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday accused Palestinian leaders of undermining the Middle East peace process by pushing for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state and failing to condemn terrorism. “Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre — and end incitement in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO,” Rubio said, referring to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority.
The decision breaks from Washington’s typical obligation as host of the United Nations to facilitate diplomatic access for officials of all countries and permanent observers. The UN Headquarters Agreement, signed in 1947, stipulates that the U.S. should not impede access to the UN, regardless of bilateral relations. It remains unclear whether the visa restrictions violate this agreement.
Palestinian officials reacted sharply, calling the U.S. move a violation of international law. President Mahmoud Abbas’s office described the decision as a direct contradiction to the UN Headquarters Agreement and urged Washington to reverse course. “The State of Palestine is an observer member of the United Nations,” the office said, stressing its right to participate in official proceedings.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the world body would open discussions with the U.S. State Department, expressing hope that all delegations would be allowed to attend. “It is important that all member states and permanent observers be represented, especially in light of the upcoming two-state solution meeting hosted by France and Saudi Arabia,” Dujarric noted.
The move comes amid renewed international momentum toward recognizing a Palestinian state. France is leading diplomatic efforts at the General Assembly session next month, with backing from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. To date, 147 of the UN’s 193 member states have extended recognition to Palestine, though the state lacks defined borders and faces ongoing territorial disputes.
Israel, supported by the Biden administration, remains firmly opposed to such recognition, citing security concerns and what it sees as premature concessions to groups it considers terrorist organizations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long rejected the two-state framework, arguing that recognizing Palestinian statehood rewards violence. “Recognition would legitimize Hamas’s monstrous terrorism,” Netanyahu has said.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed roughly 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 hostages, prompted an ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 63,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.
The PLO, which has held UN observer status since 1974, is the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinian people and continues to pursue legal and diplomatic measures in international forums. Rubio condemned those efforts as attempts to circumvent negotiations, citing them as additional justification for the visa ban.
While Palestinian diplomats stationed at the UN mission in New York are expected to retain access under the terms of the UN agreement, it is unclear how the restriction will affect higher-level delegation members from Ramallah.
The controversy intensifies global scrutiny of the United States’ role in the Middle East peace process and its obligations as host nation to the United Nations, just as world leaders prepare to gather in New York for the high-level summit next month.
Credit: BBC
