The United States revoked visas for Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) representatives ahead of next month United Nations General Assembly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement on Friday, citing unmet counterterrorism commitments.
The move enforces 2015 U.S. legislation requiring visa denials for PLO and PA members engaged in International Criminal Court actions against Israel.
State Department officials said the decision reflects ongoing concerns about Palestinian leadership’s failure to condemn Hamas’ October 7 attacks and continued incitement in educational materials.
“Accountability precedes partnership,” Rubio said in a statement, noting PA must abandon what he called “lawfare campaigns” at international courts and halt efforts to secure unilateral statehood recognition before Washington reconsidered engagement.
The visa restrictions exclude the PA UN mission under headquarters agreement obligations.
U.S. officials linked the policy to collapsed Gaza ceasefire talks, arguing Palestinian legal maneuvers encouraged Hamas to maintain hostage positions.
The Trump administration has maintained sanctions imposed after the PA initiated ICC war crimes investigations against Israel in 2021.
Palestinian officials condemned the decision as politically motivated. The PA mission stated it would “pursue all diplomatic channels” to ensure UN participation despite travel bans.
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