EU Urges U.S. to Reverse Palestinian Official Visa Ban Ahead of UNGA 2025

(UNITED STATES) The European Union has formally asked the United States 🇺🇸 to reverse a new visa ban on Palestinian officials, pressing Washington to change course before the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September 2025. EU requests were delivered publicly on August 30–31, with High Representative Kaja Kallas warning the decision risks undermining international agreements that keep the UN system running.

The appeal follows U.S. actions in late August to deny or revoke visas for senior figures in the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), including PA President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 other officials, ahead of UNGA.

U.S. rationale and immediate policy steps

U.S. officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, say the policy is grounded in national security and U.S. law. The State Department confirmed on August 29 that it would restrict travel for PA and PLO members, arguing these bodies have:

• Failed to repudiate terrorism, and
• Pursued cases against Israel in international courts.

At the same time, Washington says it will grant waivers under the UN Headquarters Agreement to allow Palestinian representatives to attend official UN events in New York, while keeping the wider visa ban in place for other travel.

Key legal authorities and scope

• The move relies on existing immigration powers, notably Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which permits consular officers to refuse visas when required under U.S. law and policy.
• The ban covers nonimmigrant visas for official, diplomatic, and personal travel by PA and PLO members.
• Exceptions apply only for those directly taking part in UN meetings in New York.
• This is the most extensive restriction since the United States denied a visa to Yasser Arafat in 1988, which forced the UN to shift a key Palestine debate to Geneva.

Reactions: Palestinian, EU, and other actors

Palestinian officials condemned the bans as violations of international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement. Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said his team is reviewing the impact and preparing a response.

The Palestinian leadership has engaged other capitals. For example, Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh coordinated with Russia’s deputy foreign minister to discuss the ban and regional issues, including the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

EU response

• EU foreign ministers backed the call to reverse the ban at a meeting in Copenhagen.
• They cited the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which requires the host country not to block entry for invitees to UN meetings.
• Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stressed that access to the UN should not be caught up in broader disputes.

The State Department maintains that national security exceptions still apply, and the dispute over the scope of those exceptions sits at the center of a tense diplomatic standoff.

Broader measures and humanitarian impact

Washington’s announcement also included a broader step: the suspension of most nonimmigrant visas for Palestinian passport holders. This affects people seeking short-term travel for:

• Medical care
• Education
• Business

Humanitarian groups warn the travel freeze could:

• Delay lifesaving treatment for patients who need hospitals abroad
• Curtail the ability of Palestinian civil society to speak at U.S. forums

For now, U.S. officials say UN participation is protected by waivers. But Palestinian delegations typically pair speeches with bilateral meetings, advocacy visits, and media appearances around New York and Washington. Those side activities are likely to shrink, limiting the visibility of Palestinian voices at a key moment—especially as more countries consider recognizing Palestinian statehood.

• Palestine remains a permanent observer state at the UN, with 147 of 193 member states recognizing Palestinian statehood as of September 2025.

Diplomatic stakes and legal contest

The timing is politically sensitive. The Israel–Hamas war continues to cast a long shadow, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting more than 63,500 Palestinian deaths since October 2023.

The PA’s legal steps at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are part of the backdrop. U.S. officials have called those legal moves “international lawfare” and say the visa ban is intended to shift PA and PLO behavior. EU capitals argue the ban will not achieve that goal and could instead weaken coordination on de-escalation and humanitarian access.

Practical implications for UNGA attendance

• PA and PLO members seeking to attend UNGA must secure waivers tied to the Headquarters Agreement.
• Those waivers cover entry linked to official UN business only.
• Travel to meet U.S. lawmakers, think tanks, community groups, or media—normally a key part of any UNGA week—will likely be off-limits under the current policy.
• There is no formal appeals process announced; affected parties may seek diplomatic channels to request exceptions, but outcomes remain uncertain.

Legal analysis

• The clash between the UN Headquarters Agreement and U.S. national security claims is expected to be a testing ground for host-country obligations under political stress.
• Legal experts note: the Agreement obliges the host to admit invitees for UN functions but allows the host to raise security concerns. The question is how far those exceptions can reach without undermining the UN’s core operations.

Political pressure and possible outcomes

The EU’s unified position raises pressure on Washington. Some governments—including France, the UK, Australia, and Canada 🇨🇦—have signaled they could move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood if there is no change in Israel’s approach.

European officials argue that restricting Palestinian officials immediately before a major UN session:

• Sends the wrong signal
• Risks pushing allies further apart
• Complicates coordination on Gaza aid and regional security

U.S. conditions for reversal

• The United States says the door is open to policy changes if the PA and PLO meet U.S. conditions, especially:
  • Condemning violence
  • Curbing incitement in education

As of September 2, 2025, there’s no public sign of reversal. The policy appears aimed at tightening pressure around the UN session while preserving minimal access for meetings inside UN headquarters.

Human stories and broader costs

For Palestinian families, the suspension of nonimmigrant visas brings immediate costs:

• Students admitted to U.S. universities may face deferrals.
• Patients scheduled for treatment face delays and uncertainty.
• Business owners with U.S. partners must postpone travel.

These personal stories rarely headline the news but define everyday realities when policy shifts happen quickly.

What to watch ahead of UNGA

• EU requests are expected to continue through UNGA, where recognition efforts and debates over accountability are likely to intensify.
• If the ban holds, Palestinian representation will be visible on the UN floor but less present across New York’s diplomatic circuit.
• If Washington shifts even slightly, it could open space for dialogue that officials on both sides say they want but struggle to initiate.

Key takeaway: The visa ban protects strict national-security claims while permitting limited UN access via waivers—but it sharply reduces the informal diplomatic, advocacy, and humanitarian activities that typically surround UNGA week.

For official updates about U.S. visa policy and waivers related to UN participation, readers can consult the U.S. Department of State.