Rubio Bars Mahmoud Abbas From Entering U.S. Ahead Of Palestinian Statehood Push At UN

The Trump administration is barring Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and other PA officials from entering the United States ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, where several countries are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state.

According to documents obtained by The Daily Wire, the State Department will suspend visas for all members of the delegation for at least 180 days and revoke visas issued prior to July 31 due to violations of U.S. law and national security interests.

The move comes as Australia, Canada, France, and Malta plan to recognize Palestinian statehood during the UNGA, where Arab media report that Abbas planned to issue a constitutional declaration outlining the state’s borders and foundations. 

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau approved the move after determining the PA and PLO were in violation of U.S. law, according to the documents, by “unilaterally declaring Palestinian statehood; glorifying violence; promoting antisemitism; and providing material support to terrorists” through its “pay for slay” program.

“In compliance with the laws and national security interests of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. “Before they can be taken seriously as partners for peace, the PA and PLO must repudiate terrorism, lawfare campaigns at the ICC and ICJ, and the pursuit of unilateral recognition of statehood.  The PA Mission to the UN will receive waivers per the UN Headquarters agreement.  The United States remains open to re-engagement should the PA/PLO demonstrably take concrete steps to return to constructive engagement.”

“The Trump Administration does not reward terrorism,” Pigott added.

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The document specifically accuses the PA of being “out of compliance” with the Palestinian Liberation and Organization Commitments Compliance Act (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act (MEPCA).

The PA’s “pay to slay” program drew outrage in 2016 after a Palestinian terrorist killed Taylor Force, a U.S. Army veteran, during a stabbing spree in Tel Aviv. Though the terrorist was killed during the attack, his family still received monthly payments from the PA’s Martyrs’ Fund. While the PA claimed in early 2025 that it was ending the program, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies reported that it only slightly restructured it. 

Landau’s decision ensures that Abbas and his delegation are unable to use the platform to push for statehood at the UNGA, where the French-Saudi High-Level Conference on the Two-State Solution (2SS) is also scheduled to take place. 

The first 2SS conference, held in July, was described as a “publicity stunt” and an “insult” by State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.

“This week, the U.N. will serve as host to an unproductive and ill-timed conference on the two-state solution in New York City,” Bruce said. “This is a publicity stunt that comes in the middle of delicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.”

The conference failed to get all conference participants to recognize a Palestinian state.

The documents state that the Two-State Solution conference is a “propaganda victory for Hamas” and that its “content is designed to present Palestinian statehood as the only possible outcome of the Gaza conflict,” undermining the United States’ ability to negotiate ceasefire talks.

Palestinian officials have been required to obtain waivers to travel to the UN Headquarters in New York City for official government business; however, the State Department has refused to issue waivers, thereby denying entry.

However, five permanent staff members and their dependents from the Palestinian UN Observer Mission will still be allowed to travel to the United States, as they are visiting the UN headquarters as part of their official duties and would be coming regardless of any recognition announcements. Allowing their presence also fulfills U.S. obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement, according to the documents.

As precedent, the documents cite the U.S. denying travel for certain members of the Iranian delegation, but note that it has not denied visas to an entire delegation before. However, the document states that the “PA delegation’s presence in the United States would be prejudicial to national interests.”

In July, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an ultimatum saying that the United Kingdom would recognize a “state of Palestine” at the UNGA if Israel did not meet certain conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire and ending the conflict in Gaza. New Zealand and Portugal also say that they are considering recognition.