Hamas on Monday condemned Washington’s refusal to grant visas to a Palestinian delegation seeking to attend meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem described the US decision as a violation of agreements governing access to UN headquarters and accused Washington of maintaining a policy of strong support for Israel.
The visa dispute has continued for a second year. In 2025, the United States denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials, requiring Abbas to address the General Assembly remotely.
UN Allows Palestinian President to Address Assembly by Video
Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution allowing the State of Palestine to participate in the general debate of its 81st session through a prerecorded presidential address shown inside the Assembly Hall.
The resolution received support from 152 countries, while three voted against it and four abstained.
Furthermore, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry rejected the continued US visa restrictions and called on Washington to reverse the measure and begin direct dialogue with Palestinian officials.
The 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement sets out US obligations concerning access to UN headquarters for representatives participating in the organisation’s activities.
Palestine Remains Non-Member Observer State
Palestine has held non-member observer state status at the UN since 2012. According to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, 160 of the UN’s 193 member states recognise the State of Palestine.
However, the United States and Israel oppose moves towards recognition outside a negotiated settlement framework. Washington has also used its Security Council veto to prevent Palestine from securing full UN membership.
The latest visa dispute comes amid continuing conflict in Gaza and longstanding disagreements over Palestinian statehood.
Palestinian authorities say Israeli military operations since October 2023 have killed more than 73,000 Palestinians. Israel disputes genocide allegations and says its operations target Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
