US Blocks Palestinian Leader from UN Meeting in New York

US Blocks Palestinian Leader from UN Meeting in New York

US denies visa to Mahmoud Abbas ahead of UN General Assembly. Learn why this move sparks global debate on peace efforts. Read more on AMERICA NEWS WORLD

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas had been planning to travel to New York for the UN assembly

Now, the full news article:

The United States has stopped Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from going to the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month. This happened after the US took away visas from him and about 80 other Palestinian officials. The State Department made this clear on Friday. And now, people around the world are talking about it.

First, let’s look at what happened. Abbas planned to speak at the UN meeting. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no. He blamed the Palestinians for hurting peace talks. Rubio pointed out that they seek recognition of a Palestinian state without talking to Israel first. Also, he said they must stop supporting terrorism and drop cases against Israel in world courts.

However, this choice is rare. The US hosts the UN headquarters. So, it should let leaders from all countries come, no matter the politics. That’s in the UN Headquarters Agreement. Yet, the State Department says Palestinian reps at the UN mission in New York can still go to meetings. But Abbas and his team can’t.

Moreover, Abbas’s office was shocked. They said this breaks international law. They asked the US to change its mind. On the other hand, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar liked the decision. He thanked the US for standing with Israel.

Now, why does this matter? France is leading a push to recognize Palestine as a state at the UN meeting. Countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia might join. Already, 147 out of 193 UN members see Palestine as a state. But the US and Israel say no. They think it rewards bad actions, like the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

That attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel. Then, Israel fought back in Gaza. Now, over 63,000 people have died there, says the Gaza health ministry run by Hamas. Many are civilians. Plus, famine is hitting Gaza hard because aid can’t get in easily.

Representatives attend a meeting of the UN Security Council on the Israel-Palestinian conflict at the UN Headquarters in New York on August 27, 2025. 
Angelina Katsanis/Reuters

Meanwhile, the war goes on. Israel plans to take over more of Gaza City. They called up 60,000 reserve troops. And the UN wants everyone at the meeting to talk peace.

But with Abbas out, talks might be harder. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said they hope to fix this. He noted it’s key for observers like Palestine to join.

Furthermore, this fits with President Donald Trump’s strong support for Israel. His team says the Palestinians must reject terrorism first. They must stop teaching hate in schools too.

In addition, experts say this won’t change much on the ground. Israel controls big parts of the West Bank with settlements. Those are illegal under world law. And Gaza is run by Hamas, not Abbas’s group.

Still, the move has upset many. Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour said they will respond soon. And aid groups warn the war is making things worse.

To understand better, let’s look at some data. Here is a simple graph on UN recognition of Palestine over time:

Years | Number of Countries Recognizing Palestine
2010 | 100
2015 | 136
2020 | 139
2025 | 147

This shows steady growth. But big powers like the US hold back. Source: UN records.

Also, here’s a pie chart on deaths in the conflict:

Israeli deaths: 2% (1,200 from Oct 7 attack)
Gaza deaths: 98% (63,000 since war started)

This highlights the huge loss in Gaza.

For more details, check our related story on america112.com. AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW) covers global news like this every day. Visit america112.com for updates.

This news hits all ages. Kids can learn about world events. Adults see the politics. Seniors recall past conflicts.

In short, this visa block adds tension to the UN meet. Peace seems far, but talks must go on. Stay tuned.

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