On August 29, the U.S. State Department denied visas to approximately 80 Palestinian officials, including President Abbas, citing “national security” concerns.
|CBS: Palestinian president’s visa to the U.S. revoked ahead of key meetings at United Nations| August 30, 2025
The Department accused the Palestinian Authority of “undermining peace efforts” by pursuing legal action against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—including charges of genocide and apartheid in Gaza.
In response, the Palestinian Mission to the UN issued a formal statement on September 2, condemning the move as a violation of the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which obligates the host country to facilitate access for all accredited delegations.
Palestinian officials described the visa denial as a deliberate attempt to silence their voice amid what UN experts have characterized as genocidal violence in Gaza.
Initial reports stated that the UNGA had voted to relocate its session to Geneva in protest. The reports cited diplomatic sources and drew parallels to the 1988 precedent, when the UN temporarily moved its session after the U.S. denied a visa to Yasser Arafat.
|PBS: U.S. revokes visas of Palestinian president, other officials ahead of UN General Assembly|
However, on September 8, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric publicly refuted the relocation claims, stating:
“There was no vote in the General Assembly… I am not aware of any preparations being made to move the General Assembly’s high-level session out of New York.”
The 80th UNGA session officially opened in New York on September 9, as scheduled.
The U.S. decision drew swift condemnation from European leaders. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the move “unjust,” while French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné emphasized that UN platforms must remain accessible to all recognized delegations.
The controversy coincided with renewed diplomatic momentum among several countries—including France, the United Kingdom, and Canada—to formally recognize Palestinian statehood.
Advocacy groups and legal scholars urged the UN to invoke the “Uniting for Peace” resolution, which empowers the General Assembly to recommend collective action when the Security Council is paralyzed by political obstruction.
While the full UNGA session remains in New York, a symbolic segment on Palestinian rights is scheduled for September 22 in Geneva, organized by civil society coalitions and international legal experts. President Abbas is expected to address this gathering remotely or via diplomatic channels, calling for international protection, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and accountability for war crimes.
This Geneva segment, though unofficial, reflects a growing global effort to circumvent political barriers and uphold the principles of international law and procedural justice.
The U.S. visa denial has triggered a diplomatic crisis and intensified scrutiny of Washington’s role in obstructing Palestinian access to international forums.
While the UNGA session has not officially moved, the Geneva segment stands as a symbolic rebuke—a testament to mounting frustration with political interference and a renewed call for justice, accountability, and equal representation on the world stage.
Palestinian officials have denounced the U.S. action as a deliberate attempt to silence their voice at a time when Gaza faces mass displacement, starvation, and what UN experts have described as genocidal violence.
President Abbas is expected to address the Assembly in Geneva, where he will call for international protection, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and accountability for war crimes.
The Geneva session is expected to amplify calls for action under the “Uniting for Peace” resolution, which empowers the General Assembly to recommend collective measures when the Security Council is unable to act due to political obstruction or lack of consensus.
Advocacy groups are urging the UN to consider deploying international protection forces to Gaza and to suspend Israel’s privileges within the UN system until humanitarian access is restored.
Beyond its logistical implications, the relocation signals a deeper shift in global diplomacy, where procedural justice and international law are being reasserted against political obstruction.
The Geneva gathering is expected to draw high-level delegations, legal experts, and civil society leaders, all converging to confront the worsening crisis and to chart a path forward for Palestinian self-determination.
