Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas is displayed on a screen as he speaks remotely during a United Nations Summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 22, 2025. (Ludovic MARIN / AFP).
US denies entry visa to PA President Mahmoud Abbas: Report
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Notices sent to officials cited terrorism-related permanent ineligibility under Section 212(a)(3)(B).
- The Palestinian UN Mission introduced a resolution for Abbas to address the assembly via video on September 24.
The United States has rejected an entry visa application for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, barring him from attending the upcoming UN General Assembly in person for the second consecutive year, US and Palestinian officials told The Times of Israel.
A Palestinian official told The Times of Israel that Abbas's office was notified of the decision on Wednesday.
Similar rejections were issued to dozens of accompanying PA officials who planned to travel with him.
According to a US State Department notice shared by a second Palestinian official, the rejection cited Section 212(a)(3)(B) of US immigration law.
The statute prohibits visa issuance to individuals who have "engaged in terrorist activities or was associated with a terrorist organization," establishing a permanent ineligibility.
It remains unconfirmed if Abbas's rejection relied on the exact same official grounds.
Virtual speech
Following the rejection, the Palestinian Mission to the UN submitted a draft resolution to enable Abbas to deliver his address virtually, a Western diplomat told The Times of Israel.
The resolution is scheduled to be presented before the General Assembly on Thursday.
Abbas is slated to address the assembly on September 24, the same day as 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Trump administration previously blocked Abbas from attending the General Assembly last year, alleging that the PA had taken steps to undermine peace prospects.
That decision coincided with an initiative hosted by France and Saudi Arabia aimed at promoting a two-state solution.
While Ramallah hoped Washington would ease its stance since no such summit is taking place this year, a US official informed The Times of Israel last month that the administration intended to maintain the ban.
Despite warnings, Abbas's office submitted entry requests earlier this month after being advised that applying was not formally prohibited.
The visa denial comes amidst continued strain between Washington and Ramallah. In a Fox News interview last month, senior advisor Jared Kushner dismissed the immediate possibility of US recognition of a Palestinian state while criticizing the PA.
