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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will address the United Nations General Assembly virtually after being barred from entering the United States.
For the second consecutive year, the Trump administration has denied Abbas and his delegation permission to travel to the US, forcing the Palestinian leader to deliver his speech remotely from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Abbas is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Wednesday morning, several hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes the podium.
The decision has drawn attention, particularly as the Trump administration permitted Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his delegation to enter the US.
The development comes against the backdrop of the months-long war launched by the US and Israel against Iran in late February. During the conflict, Iran has attacked and killed US forces in the Middle East, destroyed American military equipment in the region and struck US bases.
Meanwhile, under US President Donald Trump’s stalled 20-point ceasefire plan for Gaza, a reformed Palestinian Authority is expected to assume control of the territory at some point.
This places the Palestinian Authority in a proposed role as a partner in Gaza’s future governance, rather than an adversary like Iran.
Despite this, Washington has held discussions with Iranian officials. US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for at least two hours this week.
The Palestinian Authority, however, will not have a similar opportunity for direct talks with US officials during the General Assembly.
The contrast highlights the different levels of diplomatic engagement extended to the Iranian delegation and the Palestinian leadership, even as the proposed Gaza ceasefire framework envisions a future role for the Palestinian Authority.
