US Denies Mahmoud Abbas Visa for UN Assembly Again

The US government has blocked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York for the UN General Assembly for the second consecutive year, as confirmed by a source on September 16, 2026. This follows a similar denial in 2024, when Abbas addressed the assembly via video due to visa restrictions.

The US State Department announced the visa denial alongside extended restrictions on officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), accusing them of not honoring commitments to the US. Justifications for the restrictions included the PA and PLO pursuing legal actions against Israel at international courts, seeking recognition of a Palestinian state outside formal negotiations, and continuing financial support to Palestinian prisoners and their families, which the US described as "glorification of acts of terrorism." A waiver remains for personnel assigned to the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations, allowing their diplomatic presence in New York to continue.