US extends visa sanctions on Palestinian officials

US extends visa sanctions on Palestinian officials

The United States will extend visa restrictions on members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA), the State Department announced on Wednesday, just days before the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York.

The department said it had informed Congress that the PLO and PA had failed to fulfil their commitments under US law. Washington cited Palestinian efforts to pursue the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through international institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The State Department also criticised Palestinian officials for seeking international recognition of a Palestinian state outside the framework of negotiations with Israel.

In addition, the department accused the PLO and PA of continuing to provide financial stipends to individuals involved in terrorism and glorifying acts of terrorism.

“Because they have failed to implement reforms, the United States will extend sanctions denying visas to PLO members and PA officials,” the department said in a statement.

The announcement comes ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, which is scheduled to begin next week in New York.

The move follows a similar decision by Washington last year, when the United States denied or revoked visas for PLO and PA officials before the 2025 UN General Assembly. However, the PA Mission to the UN received visa waivers under the UN Headquarters Agreement.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas could not attend last year’s General Assembly in person and delivered his address virtually.

The Palestinian leadership had not issued an immediate public response to the latest US decision.

Responding to questions about visa decisions involving Abbas and the Palestinian delegation, State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Paloma Chacón said the Trump administration treated every visa decision as a national security matter, including those involving UN General Assembly participants.

“While we take our responsibilities as the UN host country seriously, we will continue to protect Americans by maintaining the highest standards of vetting and screening for all applicants,” Chacón said in an emailed statement.