In an unprecedented move that has drawn swift international criticism, the U.S. has announced it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials seeking to attend next month’s UN General Assembly session in New York. The decision, spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is a direct response to Palestinian and international efforts to secure “unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state,” a move the Trump administration views as a threat to peace efforts in the Middle East.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s decision is in compliance with long-standing U.S. laws, including the Middle East Peace Commitments Act (MEPCA), which sanctions the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The U.S. State Department released a statement claiming that Palestinian leadership has failed to “consistently repudiate terrorism” and has been engaging in “international lawfare campaigns” by appealing to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. Officials in internal documents have argued that enforcing these visa bans is a “low-cost, high-impact action” to reinforce U.S. policy.
The decision is a historic departure from typical U.S. practice as the host country for the UN. While the U.S. has previously denied visas on a case-by-case basis—including for members of the Iranian delegation—it has never before barred an entire delegation from attending the UN General Assembly. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed concern over the move, stating, “It is important that all member states, permanent observers be able to be represented.”
The U.S. visa ban comes as France spearheads international efforts to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. This push, which has been encouraged by Palestinian leadership, is supported by a growing number of countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia, who have all signaled their intention to either recognize or support the recognition of Palestinian statehood.
These diplomatic clashes unfold as the Israeli military campaign in Gaza continues. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the idea of a two-state solution, arguing that recognizing a Palestinian state would amount to rewarding “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism.” His comments reference the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left about 1,200 people dead and led to 251 hostages being taken. Since the conflict began, more than 63,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli forces declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone on August 29, with tens of thousands of reservists called up for a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.
