US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly

The United States has once again denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to a source familiar with the matter. The State Department stated that the decision is due to Abbas' failure to reform, in accordance with the US's expectations and his organization's commitments.

This is similar to the situation the previous year, forcing Abbas to address the UN General Assembly via video due to visa denial. The US accuses the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) of undermining the prospects for peace, taking actions that contradict prior commitments, and internationalizing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This stance has put the US at odds with several countries, including France, that recognized a Palestinian state at the UN last year. The decision comes amid heightened violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, following the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Palestinian health ministry data indicates Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,109 Palestinians since the attack.