The United States has announced it will prevent Palestinian officials from travelling to New York to attend next month’s UN General Assembly session, in an unusual move that raises questions about its compliance with international agreements.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision was taken because Palestinian leaders were undermining peace efforts and seeking “unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state”. He added that the PLO and Palestinian Authority must repudiate terrorism, including the October 7 attacks, and end efforts to pursue cases against Israel at international courts.
The move is highly unusual. Under the UN Headquarters Agreement, the US, as host country, is expected to allow representatives of all member states and observers to access UN meetings “irrespective of the relations” between their governments and Washington. Palestinian representatives currently hold observer status at the UN, a position granted in 1974.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the visa ban as a breach of international law and the Headquarters Agreement, urging the US to reverse its decision. A spokesperson said the move undermined Palestine’s right to be represented at a critical session in which recognition of a Palestinian state is expected to be debated.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the organisation was in contact with the US State Department and stressed the importance of ensuring “all member states and permanent observers are represented”.
The decision comes as France leads efforts to push for recognition of Palestinian statehood at the General Assembly, with support from the UK, Canada and Australia. So far, 147 of the UN’s 193 member states recognise Palestine.
Israel has strongly opposed the initiative. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the two-state solution, insisting recognition would reward “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism”. Israel continues to expand settlements in the West Bank, deemed illegal under international law, while maintaining its military offensive in Gaza.
The General Assembly session will include a meeting hosted by France and Saudi Arabia focused on advancing a two-state solution.