The US decision to revoke the visas of the Palestinian President and dozens of other officials ahead of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) next month has sparked global condemnation.
The move from the US comes after several countries in recent months, including France, the UK and New Zealand, expressed their intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the UNGA.
The US State Department announced on Friday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also ordered some new visa applications from Palestinian officials to be rejected.
The State Department confirmed 80 officials were denied visas, including officials from the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
"Abbas is affected by this action along with approximately 80 other PA officials," a State Department official said in a statement.
"It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace," the statement from the State Department said.
"Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre — and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO," it added.
International condemnation
Hussein al-Sheikh, the Vice President of the State of Palestine and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, said on Saturday that he had been involved in talks with the US administration to address the matter.
He also said he held talks with Saudi Arabia, France, the UK, Egypt, Jordan and the UN.
In a statement, he said that the US decision violates international laws, pointing out that Palestine holds permanent observer status at the UN. He also called on the US to reverse its decision, adding that Palestine has shown its commitment to international law and working towards peace.
World leaders also blasted the decision and urged the US to reverse it.
France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot on Saturday said that access to the UN headquarters in New York "cannot be subject to any restrictions".
In remarks made in Copenhagen ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Barrot stressed that "the UN headquarters is a neutral venue in the service of peace. Attendance at the UNGA cannot be subject to any restrictions".
Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Xavier Bettel, also weighed in, saying: "We must be able to hold discussions among ourselves. We cannot simply say that we will exclude Palestine from the dialogue".
The minister went on to propose a special session of the UNGA in Geneva to ensure that Palestine was in attendance.
Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s Prime Minister, spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday, to affirm Madrid’s support for him.
In a post on social media platform X, he described the US decision as "unjust". He also went on to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the expansion of illegal settlements and violence, as well as a political process that is based on international legitimacy and law.
Belgium described the decision as a "blow to diplomacy" and "deeply regrettable".
In a post on X, the Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prevost said: "At a time when the two-state solution has gained new momentum, concrete commitments have been made, and international support is growing, silencing the Palestinian voice is not only unjust but also counterproductive".
He added that the UN must remain a platform for all people, "especially for those whose future depends on dialogue".