US Refusal to Grant Visas to Palestinian Officials Sparks Widespread International Reactions

SadaNews - The European Union has called on the United States to "reconsider" its decision to refuse visas to Palestinian officials intending to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

European foreign policy chief Kaia Kalas stated in Copenhagen following a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers, "We urgently request that this decision be reconsidered, based on international law."

Washington announced this decision on Friday evening after several U.S. allies pledged to recognize Palestine as a state during the summit, despite objections from the United States and Israel.

The U.S. State Department stated in a release that, "According to U.S. law, Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejects and cancels visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority ahead of the United Nations General Assembly," without naming individuals.

However, news reports quoted a U.S. State Department official stating that travel visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials to the United States had been canceled.

Washington emphasizes that it can refuse to grant visas for security, political, or terrorism-related reasons.

Several European countries, in addition to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemned Washington's refusal to grant entry visas to Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, to attend the UN meeting.

UN spokesperson Stefan Dujarric indicated that the international organization would discuss the visa issue with the State Department "in accordance with the UN Headquarters Agreement signed between the UN and the United States."

Spain on Saturday condemned the U.S. decision to cancel the visas of Palestinian officials, describing it as an unacceptable measure, and urged the European Union to take a leadership role in defending Palestinian representation at the UN.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated via his X platform account that he spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and confirmed Madrid's support for him after the U.S. refused to grant him a visa to attend the UN General Assembly meetings, describing Sánchez's decision as "unjust."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot criticized the decision on Saturday, asserting that participation in UN meetings is a "right not subject to any restrictions."

Barrot said in comments made ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen that "the UN headquarters is a neutral space serving peace, and attendance at the General Assembly cannot be subject to any restrictions or conditions."

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxim Prevot also criticized Washington's decision, stating via his X account that it was regrettable and represented a "blow to diplomacy."

Prevot added that excluding Palestinian representatives contradicts the principles of multilateralism and international law, pointing out that the renewed international momentum regarding the two-state solution requires more dialogue, not its undermining.

Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel also criticized the decision, saying, "We must be able to discuss matters together; we cannot be held hostage," suggesting that a special General Assembly session be held in Geneva to ensure Palestinian attendance.

Condemning the visa refusal is one of the few issues that garnered consensus among the 27 EU leaders in Copenhagen on Saturday, while they have been struggling for months to agree on sanctions against Israel for the genocide and starvation crimes it commits in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian and Islamic Condemnation

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also labeled the decision as "discriminatory," calling on the United States to reconsider its decision, which contradicts international law and the headquarters agreements it signed.

The Palestinian presidency expressed regret over the U.S. move, confirming that it contradicts international law and the headquarters agreement signed between Washington and the United Nations.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council to intervene to ensure its delegation's participation in the upcoming meetings, stating that the U.S. decision "will not succeed in aborting international recognition of the state of Palestine."

In contrast, Israel welcomed the U.S. step, with its Foreign Minister Gideon Saar considering the decision a "legitimate response to the legal war that the Palestinians are waging" against Israel, thanking U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S. administration for standing by Tel Aviv.

These developments come as France and other European countries prepare to push for recognition of the Palestinian state during the upcoming UN General Assembly meetings in September, amidst the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and plans to annex parts of the West Bank.