U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Denies Visas to Palestinian Leaders Ahead of UN General Assembly

 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied visa applications for senior Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officials, including PA President Mahmoud Abbas, ahead of next month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision, first reported by Fox News, is based on longstanding U.S. laws that prohibit recognition of a Palestinian state and sanction the PA for so-called "pay-for-slay" policies—payments to terrorists or their families.

According to internal U.S. government documents, Rubio signed off on recommendations to block visas for senior Palestinian representatives. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the move in a statement:

"In accordance with U.S. law and national security interests, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is revoking visas for members of the PLO and Palestinian Authority ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly."

"No Partners for Peace Without Change"

The State Department emphasized that the decision aligns with U.S. policy:

"Before they can be considered credible partners for peace, the Palestinian Authority and the PLO must renounce terrorism, cease legal warfare in the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, and end unilateral statehood efforts," the statement added.

While the Palestinian UN delegation will still receive exemptions under the UN Headquarters Agreement, U.S. officials clarified that broader diplomatic engagement remains conditional.

"The U.S. remains open to renewed engagement if the PA/PLO take concrete steps toward constructive participation. The Trump administration does not reward terror," Pigott said.

Internal Pushback Against Exemptions

Senior American officials warned that granting visa exemptions would "undermine the credibility" of existing sanctions and potentially encourage further unilateral actions by the Palestinians. They described the enforcement of the visa ban as a "low-cost, high-impact" step to reinforce U.S. policy.

Palestinian Response: Violation of International Law

PA President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the decision, calling it a breach of international law and the UN Charter, particularly given the PA’s status as a non-member observer state at the UN.

"The Palestinian presidency demands that the U.S. administration reconsider and reverse this decision," said Abbas. "The PA remains committed to international law, UN resolutions, and peace obligations, as stated in letters sent to world leaders, including President Trump."

Israeli Foreign Minister Applauds Move

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the move on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“Thank you, Secretary Rubio, for holding the PLO and PA accountable for terror rewards, incitement, and legal warfare against Israel. We appreciate the administration's bold stance and continued support for Israel.”