US blocks Palestinian officials from UN meeting by denying visas

The Trump Administration has announced that it will be revoking the visas of the officials from the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), and the governing party in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority (PA), Middle East Eye via Reuters reported on August 29th.

the Administration made this announcement on August 29th, in a bid to “not reward terrorism,” and to also stop the officials from attending the UN General Assembly meeting in September.

Several nations, including France, the UK, Germany, and others, have previously announced that at this meeting, they will formally recognise Palestine as a state, and will make an effort to come to a political solution in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron committed to this on July 24th, with other nations later vowing to do the same. After a similar statement made by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump said that such a move would benefit Hamas. The UK rejected this accusation.

The move made by the Trump Administration is unprecedented, and opposes the agreement made between the US and UN, which lays down the fact that all heads of state can address the international forum in New York every September.

“The Trump Administration has been clear: it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Department said, under orders given by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The statement continued, referring to the October 7th 2023 attacks. “Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre — and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by US law and as promised by the PLO.”

“The PA must also end its attempts to bypass negotiations through international lawfare campaigns, including appeals to the ICC and ICJ, and efforts to secure the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state. Both steps materially contributed to Hamas’s refusal to release its hostages, and to the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire talks,” the Trump Administration mentioned.

It added: “The United States remains open to re-engagement that is consistent with our laws, should the PA/PLO meet their obligations and demonstrably take concrete steps to return to a constructive path of compromise and peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel”.

The PA’s Mission to the UN, which is in New York, will get waivers. This is via the UN Headquarters Agreement, as noted by the US.