RAMALLAH, September 18, 2026 (WAFA) - The Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) strongly rejected the US decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials and prevent President Mahmoud Abbas from participating in person in the United Nations General Assembly in New York for the second consecutive year.
Fatah said the decision contradicts the principles and obligations underpinning the UN Headquarters Agreement and international law, and undermines efforts to promote political dialogue and advance the two-state solution.
The movement described the decision as part of a systematic policy of silencing the Palestinian voice amid the ongoing war in Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians, saying the situation requires international attention and solidarity rather than suppression.
Fatah stressed that the decision undermines international diplomacy, equal treatment, and the right of UN member states to representation and participation at UN Headquarters. It described the reasons cited by the US as invalid and unfair, arguing that no state should prevent another from seeking recourse through international justice mechanisms in response to an illegal occupation.
It also said no UN member should be subjected to unilateral conditions that prevent its representatives from accessing UN Headquarters and participating in the work of the General Assembly.
Fatah said the State of Palestine has consistently affirmed its commitment to the two-state solution, fulfilled its international obligations, and continued diplomatic efforts toward a just and lasting peace.
The movement said the Palestinian side cannot continue to be the only party required to meet changing demands while Israel, the occupying power, continues to face insufficient accountability for violations and ongoing colonial settlement expansion in Palestinian territory.
Fatah called on the United States to reconsider its decision and uphold its responsibilities as the host country of the United Nations, stressing that adherence to international law and UN resolutions is essential to achieving a just and lasting peace.
It warned that double standards in favor of Israel and disregard for international law would further deepen the crisis, undermine the peace process, and contribute to growing international concern over the continued loss of Palestinian civilian lives.
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