— The U.S. government announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 other Palestinian Authority officials ahead of next month’s U.N. General Assembly in New York, while waivers were granted for mission staff based at the U.N.
Key Takeaways
- On Aug. 29, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked visas for Mahmoud Abbas and roughly 80 other Palestinian officials.
- The State Department said some new visa applications tied to the Palestine Liberation Organization were also denied.
- Representatives assigned to the Palestinian Authority’s U.N. mission were granted waivers under the U.S.–U.N. host country agreement.
- The Palestinian Authority called the action a breach of international obligations and urged reversal.
- The move followed other U.S. steps restricting Palestinians and comes while Israel declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone.
- The decision prompted the U.N. to seek clarification from the U.S. government.
- A State Department official spoke on condition of anonymity about normally confidential visa matters.
Verified Facts
The State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the revocation of visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 other officials. The action was disclosed on Aug. 29, 2025, and was described by the department as tied to national security and accountability for commitments the U.S. says the PLO and Palestinian Authority have not met.
According to the State Department, some visa applications connected to the Palestine Liberation Organization will be denied going forward. The department said groups must repudiate terrorism and cease incitement in education to be considered partners for peace, language it framed as consistent with U.S. law and prior PLO commitments.
U.N.-based representatives of the Palestinian mission were given exemptions so they can continue New York operations under the U.S. host country agreement with the United Nations. A U.S. official who discussed visa policy did so on background, noting visa adjudications are normally confidential.
Context & Impact
The decision is the latest in a sequence of U.S. measures that have tightened travel and visa permissions for some Palestinians, including earlier suspensions of a program allowing injured children from Gaza to travel to the U.S. for medical care following public backlash.
Palestinian officials said the revocations violate the U.S. commitment to the U.N. as host and contravene the Headquarters Agreement that protects access for member states and observers. The Palestinian presidency said it was surprised and deeply regretful at the move.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the organization would seek clarification from the State Department and expressed hope the matter could be resolved so members and observers can be represented at the General Assembly.
Diplomatic consequences could include additional tensions at the upcoming high-level U.N. meetings. Palestinian leaders had planned to participate in the General Assembly and related sessions, including a Sept. 22 meeting on a two-state solution co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
Official Statements
“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Department said in a public statement regarding the visa actions.
U.S. Department of State
Unconfirmed
- The State Department’s public statement did not list every individual affected; the reported figure of about 80 officials comes from department briefings and has not been published as a full list.
- How the revocations will affect specific planned meetings or bilateral encounters at the General Assembly remains unclear.
Bottom Line
The visa revocations mark a significant U.S. policy step that could complicate Palestinian participation in New York and increase diplomatic friction ahead of the U.N. General Assembly. Expect requests for clarification from the U.N. and continued diplomatic exchanges as the Assembly approaches.