US sanctions Palestinian officials ahead of UN assembly

The United States enforced visa sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) on July 31st, according to The Arab Weekly via Reuters.

The move could hinder Palestinian leaders’ ability to travel to the UN headquarters in New York this September, where several Western nations are expected to announce their recognition of a Palestinian state.

“It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Department said in a statement. While the department did not name specific individuals, it confirmed the sanctions target selected officials.

The US accused both the PA and the PLO of internationalising the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – particularly through appeals to the International Criminal Court – and of continuing to support what it referred to as terrorism.

Despite these allegations, the PA and PLO have long served as key political representatives of Palestinians and their efforts to achieve international recognition of statehood. As of now, neither organisation has commented on the sanctions.

The PA, a civilian governing body, administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, home to approximately three million Palestinians and approximately half a million Israeli settlers living in settlements deemed illegal under international law.

Tensions between Washington and several Group of Seven (G7) allies have been rising over the issue of Palestinian statehood. A recent UN conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia from July 28th to 30th focused on advancing the two-state solution and recognising Palestinian statehood, an event boycotted by both Israel and the US.

On July 29th and 30th, the UK and Canada respectively announced their intent to recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. But the UK said it would not go ahead with the move if the conflict in Gaza stops by that time and Israel committed to a peaceful resolution to end its conflict with the enclave. The two countries joined France, which had already declared its support for recognition ahead of the conference.

US President Donald Trump has argued that recognising Palestinian statehood would amount to a reward for Hamas. The militant group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7th 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel launched an extensive military campaign in Gaza, which local health authorities say has killed over 60,000 people and displaced nearly the entire population, plunging the enclave into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Amid worsening conditions, international pressure has grown on Israel to halt its war, while support for Palestinian statehood has intensified globally.

The US visa sanctions could complicate Palestinian officials’ ability to attend the UN General Assembly in September. While it remains unclear whether Palestinian diplomats will be affected, the move casts doubt over their ability to participate in a key moment for diplomatic recognition.

When asked whether the sanctions were in retaliation for the UK, Canada, and France’s decision to back Palestinian statehood, State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott declined to comment directly. He said the sanctions stemmed from a routine biannual review of Palestinian compliance with US conditions.

While the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement generally obliges the US to grant entry to foreign diplomats visiting the UN in New York, the US allegedly reserves the right to deny visas on the grounds of national security, terrorism, or foreign policy. Pigott added that waivers could be granted on a case-by-case basis.

The US is also exerting pressure on the International Criminal Court following the court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes.

In response to the US sanctions, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked Washington for its “moral clarity,” saying the move “exposes the moral distortion of certain countries that ran to recognise a virtual Palestinian state while turning a blind eye to its support for terror and incitement.”

The Arab Weekly via Reuters, Maghrebi.org