The United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric has said that the UN has sought clarification from the US State Department regarding the revocation of visas for Palestinian officials ahead of the UNGA annual session in New York.
He said, “We hope that this matter will be resolved soon,” adding, “It is important that all member states and permanent observers be able to be represented.”
“This is an important matter, and we will raise it with the State Department, in line with the UN Headquarters Agreement between the UN and the US,” said Dujarric.
“We would like to see all diplomats and delegates who are entitled to come here to be able to travel freely,” he added.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has said that since Palestine holds observer status, the agreements between the United Nations and the US do not include Palestine in them.
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The step is seen as ongoing US support for Israel, which is accused of committing genocidal-level crimes in Gaza, and this year’s UNGA session is expected to head for a fierce showdown between member states and Israel over the conflict.
Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters in New York that Palestinian representatives will respond to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s decision to revoke the visas of dozens of politicians and diplomats slated to travel to the UN in September.
“We will see exactly what it means and how it applies to any of our delegation, and we will respond accordingly,” said Mansour.
“Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7th massacre — and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by US law and as promised by the PLO,” the State Department statement added.
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