The Palestinian Authority calls upon the United States to act without delay to rescind its dangerous and destructive decision. With President Mahmoud Abbas set to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next month, losing his visa would be a body blow. Abbas has customarily headed the Palestinian delegation at the annual meetings. His involvement in the event is key to make sure that Palestinians have representation on the global stage. The Palestinian presidency conveyed its dismay at Washington’s recent move, which targeted 80 other Palestinian officials.
The appeal for intervention comes as tensions rise amid ongoing violence in the region and growing international support for Palestinian statehood. Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, urged countries worldwide to exert pressure on the U.S. government before the UNGA convenes on September 22. He pledged that work to restore the visas would be pushed “24/7.”
U.S. Decision Sparks Outrage
The U.S. decision to rescind the visas has faced broad backlash. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on these revocations. He blasted the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for failing to meet their obligations and undermining the chances of peace. This justification has been roundly condemned from all sides.
Matt Duss, now the executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, was a leading critic of the Trump administration. He labeled its measures a blatant breach of diplomatic etiquette. He stated, “What’s going on here is clearly ideologically driven.” Duss went on to accuse that Trump administration officials had a much deeper and more troubling relationship with the extremist Israeli government. Their aim, as always, is to silence the Palestinian liberation movement on the world stage.
In reply, the Palestinian presidency has doubled down, once again pledging its commitment to international dialogue and cooperation. Abu Rudeineh called on the American administration to rescind its decision. He cautioned that maintaining these restrictions will only increase hostility and inflame an already unstable situation.
Support from Global Leaders
International leaders have joined these calls, including the UN Secretary General and the King of Morocco, to support Mahmoud Abbas and condemn the visa revocation. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had a call with Abbas. Following what he called inappropriate visa cancellations, he expressed his strong support. Sanchez underscored that “Palestine has the right to make its voice heard at the United Nations and in all international forums.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized the importance of access to UNGA, stating, “The United Nations headquarters is a place of neutrality, a sanctuary dedicated to peace, where conflicts are resolved.” He was one of many who all beseeched a rethinking of the original decision. They grounded their call in the precedent set by the buried agreements between the UN and its host state.
International outrage against Israel’s onslaught on Gaza’s people and infrastructure continues to mount. Simultaneously, settler violence in the West Bank is on the rise and many countries are reportedly weighing recognition of an independent Palestinian state at the next UNGA. Together, these developments represent a profound change in global opinion toward Palestinian rights—and whose voices must be heard.
A Crucial Moment for Palestinian Representation
Today, as Mahmoud Abbas prepares to address the General Assembly, this moment is both a burden and a blessing for Palestinian advocacy. Washington’s decision has a direct effect on Abbas’s ability to attend. It further reverberates the larger geopolitical currents that affect stability along the entire arc of the Middle East.
Undoing the visa revocation is imperative and time-sensitive. Regardless, this continued one-sided approach underscores the fragile state of U.S.-Palestinian relations and represents a potentially historic moment of international diplomacy on behalf of Palestine. The Palestinian Authority continues to be committed to seeking a peaceful, negotiated settlement and increasing Palestinian recognition around the world.
