Trump administration revokes visas for Palestinian leaders ahead of UN meeting

In late August 2025, the United States revoked visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and over 80 Palestinian officials, restricting their entry ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session. This decision, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was motivated by allegations of 'incitement to terrorism' and was seen as a reaction against Palestinian efforts to unilaterally seek statehood through the U.N. The revocation followed a series of punitive measures aimed at holding the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) accountable for actions deemed harmful to peace negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian leadership condemned the U.S. decision as a violation of its commitments, asserting that such measures would only escalate tensions in the region. Palestinian representatives expressed their frustration and called for international support against these restrictions. They urged other countries to pressure the U.S. administration to reverse its decision, framing the U.S. actions as an impediment to peace efforts and dialogue. European nations, including France and Spain, supported the Palestinian leadership, with officials from these countries emphasizing the need for Palestinian voices to be heard in international forums like the U.N. General Assembly, reinforcing the narrative that the U.N. should be a neutral space for conflict resolution. The Palestinian Authority stated that they would continue their diplomatic efforts on this matter, highlighting the broader implications of the U.S. decision on future peace talks and Palestinian statehood aspirations.