The United States State Department has extended a visa ban on Palestinian officials, blocking President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York to address the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. This marks the second consecutive year that Abbas has been prevented from attending the annual gathering, with the restrictions targeting officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

In a statement, the State Department said the decision to extend the measures was based on the Palestinian leadership’s failure to implement promised reforms, along with efforts to seek statehood recognition outside of direct negotiations and to pursue cases through international courts. Washington also accused the PA of making payments to militants who carry out attacks against Israelis. However, under the UN Headquarters Agreement, general staff of the PA mission will still be permitted to carry out their work.

Abbas had been expected to use his address to push for renewed momentum behind the two-state solution, particularly following recent moves by the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and other Western nations to formally recognise the State of Palestine. He was also expected to draw international attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and the mounting violence carried out by extremist settlers.

The move has drawn sharp criticism, particularly given that no travel restrictions have been imposed on Israeli officials, despite the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Palestinian officials and UN human rights experts described the decision as a breach of Washington’s international obligations, arguing that shielding Israeli leaders while penalising Palestinian representatives contradicts the United States’ stated commitment to a negotiated peace.