United States moves to deny visas to Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian officials

The United States administration under President Donald Trump is reportedly moving to deny visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials, preventing their attendance at the United Nations General Assembly meetings scheduled for September.

This move follows similar restrictions imposed by Washington in 2025. Reports indicate that President Abbas requested intervention from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to urge the U.S. administration to reverse the decision. While communication between Ankara and Washington has taken place, the U.S. administration has reportedly maintained its stance.

The decision is viewed as a challenge to international diplomatic processes, particularly as approximately 160 countries recognize the State of Palestine. Observers suggest that barring the Palestinian leadership from the UN platform could weaken the international presence of the Palestinian cause during the upcoming session.