Nepal UK
Picture: Reuters
KATHMANDU, Nepal —The United States has denied and revoked visas for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and more than 80 other Palestinian officials, preventing them from travelling to New York to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. This move, which has sparked an international backlash, is linked to a push by several U.S. allies to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the gathering.
The U.S. State Department announced on Friday, August 29, 2025 (late Saturday evening Nepal time), that the new visa restrictions apply to members of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). The decision, which officials called a matter of national security, is part of a policy to hold the groups "accountable for not complying with their commitments." The U.S. has long demanded that the PA and PLO "consistently repudiate terrorism" and stop what it calls "incitement to terrorism".
The Palestinian Authority's office called the U.S. decision a violation of the 1947 UN "headquarters agreement", which generally requires the U.S. to allow foreign diplomats to access the UN headquarters in New York. However, the U.S. maintains it can deny visas for security and foreign policy reasons.
The U.S. decision has been met with strong condemnation from key European allies. On Saturday, August 30, 2025 (Sunday morning Nepal time), foreign ministers from France, Spain, and Ireland gathered in Copenhagen and openly criticised the move. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the decision "unacceptable", stating that a UN General Assembly cannot be subject to restrictions on access. The United Nations has also said it will discuss the visa issue with the U.S. government.
The dispute highlights a growing divide between the U.S. and some of its partners over the issue of Palestinian statehood. France, Britain, Australia, and Canada have all stated their intention to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN meeting in September. These pledges reflect a rising frustration with the ongoing conflict in Gaza and expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The visa denial comes as the Gaza war continues to intensify. Latest reports from the Gaza Health Ministry indicate that the Palestinian death toll from the conflict has surpassed 63,000 people. Israel has recently declared Gaza's largest city a "combat zone" as it presses forward with its military offensive.
The U.S. and Israel remain opposed to the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that it should only be established through direct negotiations between the two parties. Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has welcomed the U.S. visa decision.
