US Blocks Palestinian Officials from Attending Upcoming UN Meeting

Sat Oct 18 2025 02:14:15 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a controversial move, the United States has announced it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials who wish to attend the UN General Assembly session in New York next month, citing concerns over peace efforts.

The US government has decided to prevent Palestinian officials from traveling to the UN General Assembly, blaming them for undermining peace efforts and seeking unilateral recognition for a Palestinian state. This unprecedented decision comes as international calls for the recognition of Palestine grow, particularly from France and other countries. The ban raises questions about the US's obligations as the host nation of the UN, which typically facilitates attendance for officials of all countries.

The US says it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials wishing to travel to New York next month to attend the UN General Assembly session.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed them for undermining peace efforts and for seeking the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state.

The decision is unusual - the US, as host country, is expected to facilitate travel for officials of all countries wishing to visit the UN headquarters.

The ban comes as France spearheads international efforts to recognise a state of Palestine at the GA session. Donald Trump's administration has fully backed Israel in voicing opposition to such a move.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has constantly rejected the idea of a two-state solution - the long-time international formula to resolve the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. He argues that recognizing a Palestinian state would reward Hamas's monstrous terrorism.

The situation escalated following the October 7 attack led by Hamas, resulting in a significant military response from Israel, and has contributed to a death toll exceeding 63,000 in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health statistics.

Currently, Palestinian representatives at the UN hold observer status, allowing them to participate in meetings without voting rights. Rubio's announcement indicates that the US government is taking a firm stand against recognized Palestinian statehood in alignment with Israeli interests.

The implications of this decision could further complicate diplomatic relations and efforts toward peace in the region as international momentum shifts towards recognizing Palestinian statehood.