The Donald Trump administration has announced a significant policy shift, denying and revoking visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September. The decision, disclosed by the US Department of State, is framed as a measure to hold the PLO and PA “accountable for not complying with their commitments and for undermining the prospects for peace”, citing national security grounds.
The move targets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 senior officials, although the US has confirmed that waivers will be granted to the Palestinian Authority Mission to the UN, allowing its New York-based operations to continue. Ambassador Riyad Mansour, who heads the mission, said the delegation would assess the decision’s exact impact before responding.
The justifications given by Washington are wide-ranging. The State Department accuses the Palestinians of failing to repudiate terrorism, pointing to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. It also cites the PA’s attempts to “bypass negotiations” by appealing to international courts, notably the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, while the ICJ is examining Palestinian claims that Israel is committing genocide and practising apartheid in the occupied territories. Washington argues these steps amount to internationalising the conflict, placing the PA in violation of US law.
The US also repeats long-standing criticisms of the PA’s alleged “support for terrorism,” including incitement, glorification of violence and its policy of providing stipends to Palestinians imprisoned by Israel or to the families of those killed in attacks. Critics call this a system of “pay for slay”. The PA insists the stipends are welfare payments to families of all prisoners, many of whom are held without trial, and says they are considered political prisoners.
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The timing of the announcement is interesting. It comes soon after France, the UK and Canada pledged to recognise an independent, demilitarised Palestinian state later this year. It also follows a French-Saudi led conference at the UN designed to rally support for a two-state solution. The US had warned of consequences for any “anti-Israel” declarations at the event. The Biden administration had previously noted the PA’s non-compliance with 2002 US legislation but declined to impose penalties. The Trump administration has now reversed that stance.
Reaction has been swift. The Palestinian presidency expressed “deep regret and astonishment,” urging Washington to reconsider while reaffirming a commitment to international law and peace. Mustafa Barghouti, founder of the Palestinian National Initiative, accused the US of “punishing the victim, which is the Palestinian people, instead of those committing war crimes.” French officials have noted that the PA has indicated a willingness to end its stipend payments if a Palestinian state is recognised.
From a host state perspective the move has stirred controversy. The US, as host of the UN headquarters, is generally expected to grant visas to representatives of member states for official UN business. US immigration policy usually does not interfere with such visits, although there have been precedents. In 1988, the US denied visa to PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, prompting the UNGA to move to Geneva. In 2013, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir was blocked due to an ICC warrant. Critics highlight the contrast with Netanyahu, who faces an ICC warrant yet remains welcome to attend.
Israel has warmly welcomed Washington’s decision. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised what he called America’s “moral clarity” and argued that the PA “must pay a price for its ongoing policy of paying terrorists and their families and for its incitement against Israel”. Sa’ar also criticised European governments for rushing to recognise what he called a “virtual Palestinian state”. Yet Israeli security officials often credit the PA with helping maintain order in the West Bank by suppressing rival armed groups.
The visa ban is among the more limited punitive tools available to the Trump administration. Harsher steps, such as designating the PA a foreign terrorist organisation, would trigger sweeping sanctions. Analysts point out the imbalance in US law, which provides multiple mechanisms to penalise Palestinian entities but none to sanction Israel for actions that arguably breach the Oslo Accords, such as settlement expansion, failure to withdraw from the West Bank and withholding Palestinian tax revenues.
