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Palestinian President Abbas Blasts US Visa Denial in UN Video Address

Mahmoud Abbas calls on Washington to lift 'punitive' restrictions, warns against Israeli annexation and 'another Nakba'

By LineZotpaper
Published
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas delivered a video address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday after being denied a US visa for the second consecutive year, accusing Washington of blocking his diplomatic participation and calling on President Donald Trump to uphold a pledge to prevent Israeli annexation of Palestinian land.

Speaking via video link from Ramallah, Abbas described the visa denial as "punitive and unlawful," noting that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had been allowed to attend the summit in person under US Secret Service protection despite Iran being at war with the United States.

"We call upon the American administration to lift these sanctions and restrictions … rather than punishing the side that has chosen the path of international law and political and diplomatic action in order to guarantee its rights," Abbas said.

The US State Department said the visa was denied in part because the Palestinian Authority, which Abbas leads, had taken "actions to internationalise the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", including through proceedings in international courts.

Abbas urged the international community to stop Israel from undermining the two-state solution, accusing Israel of carrying out a "malicious colonial scheme aimed at making the lives of Palestinians more difficult in their homeland and forcing them to leave it."

He warned delegates against allowing "another Nakba" — the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during Israel's founding in 1948 — and described a "genocidal war" in Gaza that Israel denies.

This year's UN summit marks a year since a bloc of countries including Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada recognised Palestinian statehood in defiance of US opposition. The UN also adopted the New York Declaration last year, expressing unwavering support for a two-state solution.

Human rights groups have documented rising violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including killings, beatings, and damage to homes and infrastructure. The UN reports that the rate of Palestinian injuries from settler attacks has increased from one every three days in 2020 to more than three per day in 2026.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The US visa denial prevents the Palestinian president from personally presenting his case at the UN, raising questions about equal access to international diplomatic forums.
  • Abbas's warning of "another Nakba" and references to settler violence highlight escalating tensions in the West Bank alongside the Gaza war, with implications for regional stability.
  • The contrast with Iran's president being allowed entry underscores inconsistent US diplomatic treatment of adversarial states and non-state actors.

Background

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a central issue at the UN for decades, with the two-state solution — an independent Palestine alongside Israel — as the internationally endorsed framework. The US has historically played a mediating role but under President Trump adopted policies seen by Palestinians as heavily pro-Israel, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The current situation is further complicated by the ongoing war in Gaza, which Israel says is aimed at Hamas but which Palestinian authorities and human rights groups describe as a humanitarian catastrophe. The Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, governs parts of the West Bank but has limited control, while Israeli settlements continue to expand in areas considered illegal under international law.

Key Perspectives

Mahmoud Abbas / Palestinian Authority: The Palestinian leader insists his government has fulfilled its obligations under the New York Declaration and national reform program, and that diplomatic and legal actions are necessary to secure Palestinian rights. He sees the visa denial as a punitive measure for pursuing international justice. US State Department: The administration argues that the Palestinian Authority's pursuit of international legal action against Israel undermines direct negotiations and constitutes an effort to "internationalise" the conflict — a tactic the US opposes. Critics / Human Rights Groups: Observers note that the denial of a visa to a UN member-observer's leader for attending the General Assembly is exceptional and may violate the spirit of the UN Headquarters Agreement. They also highlight the discrepancy between allowing Iran's president entry while barring Abbas.

What to Watch

  • Whether the US grants Abbas a visa for future UN sessions or maintains the denial as a diplomatic tool.
  • The trajectory of Israeli settler violence in the West Bank and any international response, including possible sanctions or resolutions.
  • Whether the Biden administration (or a future Trump administration) renews efforts for a peace framework or continues current policies that Palestinians view as enabling annexation.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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