Revocation of Mahmoud Abbas's Visa for the UN General Assembly
August 30, 2025
Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, will not attend the UN General Assembly due to the US decision to revoke his visa. The US State Department cited the undermining of peace efforts and a desire for unilateral recognition of a hypothetical Palestinian state. This ban is considered unusual since the US is obligated to facilitate access for officials. The Palestinian side reacted strongly, calling the visa revocation a violation of international law. In contrast, Israel welcomed the US stance.