US Extends Visa Sanctions on Palestinian Leaders, Denies Abbas Entry

The United States has extended visa restrictions targeting senior officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The State Department cited the PA and PLO's failure to meet commitments to Washington, including actions against Israel at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, pursuit of unilateral statehood recognition, and continued payments to individuals convicted of attacks against Israelis and their families.

An exception remains for staff of the Palestinian Mission to the UN in New York, allowing them to perform diplomatic duties. The PA holds observer state status at the UN but is not a full member.

Concurrently, the U.S. denied entry visas to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, and members of a high-level Palestinian delegation intending to attend UN General Assembly meetings next week. Abbas's name was not explicitly mentioned in the official State Department announcement regarding the extended visa sanctions.

This marks the second consecutive year Abbas has been denied permission to attend the General Assembly session. It is anticipated that he may be granted the opportunity to address the assembly via video conference.