Palestinian delegation's UN travel ban dispute
The European Union said it regretted the United States’ decision, for the second year running, to deny visas to Palestinian Authority and PLO officials seeking to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, and urged Washington to reconsider. "In light of its existing headquarters agreements with the UN and its obligations as host state, we urge the United States for this decision to be reconsidered," said EU diplomatic service spokesman Anouar El Anouni on Saturday 20 September 2026. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had separately expressed regret on Friday, saying he was concerned about the effect on "the ability of the State of Palestine to participate fully in the work of the United Nations." The US State Department said on Wednesday it was extending the sanctions because the Palestinian Authority had failed to reform, had bypassed direct negotiations to seek international recognition of statehood, had taken its dispute with Israel to international courts, and had financially supported people the US and Israel describe as convicted attackers and their families. No Israeli officials face equivalent US travel restrictions, despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The move came days after the General Assembly voted to let Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas address the body via a prerecorded statement.