The United States has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and more than 80 senior Palestinian officials, effectively blocking them from attending next month’s UN General Assembly in New York.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the unprecedented decision on Friday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing the Palestinian leadership of “undermining peace efforts” by seeking international recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

The announcement comes at a critical moment as France spearheads renewed efforts to secure formal recognition of Palestine at the UN General Assembly — a step long opposed by Washington and Tel Aviv.

The U.S. decision is being described by Palestinian officials and international legal experts as a clear violation of the UN Headquarters Agreement of 1947, which obligates the host country — the United States — to allow the representatives of all member and observer states unrestricted access to the UN, regardless of their political relations with Washington.

“The revocation of visas contradicts international law and directly violates the UN Headquarters Agreement,” the office of President Abbas said in a statement. “The State of Palestine is an observer member of the United Nations, and our participation in the General Assembly is a legitimate right that cannot be obstructed.”

Observers warn that Washington’s decision undermines the very credibility of the UN system, transforming the world body into a hostage of U.S. foreign policy and its pro-Israel agenda.

The move was immediately welcomed by Israel, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praising Washington’s step as a “victory against Palestinian unilateralism.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long rejected the internationally backed two-state solution, dismissing the recognition of Palestine as a “reward for terrorism.”

Yet, for Palestinians, the U.S. decision is another demonstration of its unconditional bias toward Israel, even at the expense of international agreements it is legally bound to uphold. By barring Abbas and his delegation from New York, the U.S. has effectively silenced the Palestinian voice at the very forum where they are entitled to present their case before the world.

The ban comes amid Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign against the Gaza Strip. Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken captive, the occupation army has unleashed one of the most devastating wars in modern history.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 63,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed in the enclave since the offensive began, while millions have been displaced and starved under a suffocating blockade.

Palestinian officials argue that Washington’s latest move reflects its determination to shield Israel from accountability for these war crimes while punishing the victims for demanding justice and recognition.

While Israel celebrates, Palestinian officials are calling on the UN and the international community to resist U.S. bullying and ensure that Palestine’s representatives are allowed to participate in the General Assembly as a matter of right.

“The United States has once again exposed its hypocrisy by claiming to support democracy and freedom while silencing an occupied people struggling for their basic rights,” a senior PLO official said.

Despite the ban, the Palestinian leadership vowed to continue its diplomatic and popular struggle for full recognition of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“This shameful American decision cannot erase the fact that Palestine exists, that it bleeds daily under occupation, and that it has the right to be recognized as a sovereign state,” the statement concluded. (ILKHA)