Palestinian president’s workplace urges US to reinstate his visa forward of key UN conferences

By Imad Isseid | Related Press

RAMALLAH, West Financial institution — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ workplace on Saturday urged the U.S. authorities to reverse its uncommon determination to revoke his visa, weeks earlier than he was meant to seem on the U.N.’s principal annual assembly and a global convention about making a Palestinian state.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rescinded the visas of Abbas and 80 different officers forward of subsequent month’s annual high-level assembly of the U.N. Common Meeting, the State Division disclosed Friday. Abbas has addressed the Common Meeting for a few years, and usually leads the Palestinian delegation.

“We call upon the American administration to reverse its decision. This decision will only increase tension and escalation,” Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh instructed The Related Press in Ramallah on Saturday.

“We have been in contact since yesterday with Arab and foreign countries, especially those directly concerned with this issue. This effort will continue around the clock,” he stated.

He urged different nations to place strain on the Trump administration to reverse the choice, notably the nations which have organized a high-level convention on Sept. 22 about reviving efforts for a two-state resolution for the Center East. It’s co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.

French Overseas Minister Jean-Noël Barrot protested restrictions on entry to the U.N. Common Meeting, and stated he would focus on the difficulty with EU counterparts.

“The United Nations headquarters is a place of neutrality, a sanctuary dedicated to peace, where conflicts are resolved,” he stated Saturday. “The UN General Assembly … cannot suffer any restrictions on access.”

Abu Rudeineh additionally urged an finish to Israel’s offensive in Gaza and “escalation in the West Bank, because none of this will lead to any solution.”

The transfer got here because the Israeli navy declared Gaza’s largest metropolis a fight zone. Israel says Gaza Metropolis stays a stronghold of Hamas.

The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to focus on Palestinians with visa restrictions.

“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) and PA (Palestinian Authority) accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Division stated in a press release.

The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments because the host nation of the United Nations. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated the world physique can be searching for clarification from the State Division.

Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.

Initially Printed: August 30, 2025 at 7:54 AM PDT