EU presses Washington to reverse visa ban on Palestinian UN delegation

The European Union has called on the United States to reverse its decision to ban Palestinian Authority officials from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. This is the second consecutive year that Washington has blocked the Palestinian delegation's travel. The EU has criticized the US for its double standards, noting its legal responsibilities as the host of the UN.

US Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed concern over the visa denials, stating they impact the Palestinian State's ability to participate fully in UN work. The US justifies the ban by accusing Palestinian leadership of failing to implement reforms and engaging in activities that undermine peace prospects. Notably, no similar travel bans have been imposed on Israeli officials despite the ICC pursuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Brief written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.