Event
The United States has extended visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and Palestine Liberation Organization members, preventing President Mahmoud Abbas from travelling to New York to address the UN General Assembly for a second consecutive year.
2 published stories · security · source reliability 67%
The renewed restrictions prevent the Palestinian president from travelling to New York for a second consecutive year, while a waiver allows regular mission staff to continue working at the UN.
Background
The United States has extended visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and Palestine Liberation Organisation members, barring President Mahmoud Abbas from travelling to New York to address the UN General Assembly for a second consecutive year. The State Department cited alleged failures to reform and actions it said weaken prospects for peace, including pursuing statehood recognition outside direct negotiations, using international courts and payments to people the US and Israel describe as convicted attackers and their families. A waiver will allow regular staff at the Palestinian mission to work in New York.
The United States has extended visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and Palestine Liberation Organisation members, barring President Mahmoud Abbas from travelling to New York to address the UN General Assembly for a second consecutive year. The State Department cited
Fact cards
Key entities: United States Department of State, Palestinian Authority, Palestine Liberation Organization, Mahmoud Abbas, United Nations General Assembly.
Why has Mahmoud Abbas been barred from the UN General Assembly? The US extended visa sanctions on Palestinian officials, citing alleged failures to reform and actions it said weaken prospects for peace. Who else is affected? Palestinian Authority officials and Palestine Liberatio
Al Jazeera Global News | https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/17/us-extends-visa-ban-on-palestinian-officials-before-un-general-assembly | published 2026-09-17T03:44:13.000Z | primary source | Al Jazeera Global News | Primary report on the visa extension, US rationale, UN waiver
2025: The US imposed visa restrictions that prevented Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly, drawing criticism from Palestinian officials and UN human rights experts. 2026-09-17: The US extended visa sanctions affecting Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organi
Timeline
The US imposed visa restrictions that prevented Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly, drawing criticism from Palestinian officials and UN human rights experts.
The US extended visa sanctions affecting Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation officials.
The renewed restrictions prevented Abbas from travelling to New York for the General Assembly.
FAQ
The US extended visa sanctions on Palestinian officials, citing alleged failures to reform and actions it said weaken prospects for peace.
Palestinian Authority officials and Palestine Liberation Organisation members are among those subject to the restrictions, though the full list was not provided.
Yes. A waiver allows regular mission staff to work in New York.
Palestinian statehood recognition, a two-state solution, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and developments in the occupied West Bank.
The State Department cited alleged failures to reform and actions it said undermine peace prospects.
The decision is expected to prevent him from attending in person.
The US said it would deny visas to Palestinian Liberation Organisation and Palestinian Authority officials.
No; his inclusion was reported by a source familiar with the matter.