U.S. again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly

The Palestinian Authority on Thursday (September 17, 2026) slammed a decision by the United States to refuse visas for its officials to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, a move which includes president Mahmoud Abbas according to a source familiar with the case.

In a statement that did not mention Mr. Abbas by name, the State Department said it would deny visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and officials with the Palestinian Authority (PA), "as a consequence of their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace."

A source familiar with the matter confirmed to AFP that the Palestinian Authority president, Mr. Abbas, was covered by the measure.