Trump Administration Denies Visas to Palestinian Officials Ahead of UN Session

The US administration under President Trump has made it public that it plans to bar Palestinian Authority officials from obtaining visas to attend the upcoming U.N. General Assembly high session. Upon reading between the lines, one can interpret this move as a nod to Israel’s objective of removing Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, areas referred to by staunch Israeli nationalists as ‘Greater Israel.’ The reasons to legitimize the visa refusal were majorly handed out by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an official decree given on Friday, though they are deemed groundless by many.

According to Rubio, the aim here is to subject the Palestinian Authority to accountability for falling short of carrying out their ‘responsibilities’ as ‘partners for peace’, in particular, their lack of renouncement of terror attacks including the Oct. 7 bloodshed. Contrary to this, it should be acknowledged that the Palestinian Authority has regularly spoken out against terrorist activities, including the aforementioned assault led by Hamas, a group that operates independent of the PA. Interestingly, Hamas also strongly opposes the PA’s advocacy for a two-state resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflicts.

Rubio also urged the Palestinian Authority to halt its worldwide ‘lawfare’ campaign, which Rubio defines as attempts to persuade global leaders to acknowledge the statehood of Palestine. He perceives such bypass of negotiations with Israel, believed to be the just route towards a two-state solution, as a key factor that led to the failure of the ceasefire discussions in Gaza and stiffened Hamas’ resolution not to free Israeli hostages. However, such claims may be far from the truth. Israel, for quite some time, has been dodging sincere negotiations on the two-state solution proposal.

In truth, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has explicitly stated that he will never permit such a resolution to take place as long as he holds office, and has consistently repelled diplomatic discussions on the matter. Despite this, both Trump and Rubio have not publicly rebuked Israel for its resistance, let alone prohibit Israel’s officials from entering the US. On the Gaza issue too, Israel’s sudden shift to an extreme ‘all-or-nothing’ stance as Hamas tentatively moved toward a ceasefire drew a lot of attention, due to its impractical proposition that an end to the war, the release of hostages, and disarmament of Hamas happen all at once.

The Palestinian Authority is not without its flaws. President Mahmoud Abbas has only recently unequivocally denounced the Oct. 7 attack. He also subsidizes families of Palestinian ‘martyrs’, including Hamas militants who have been apprehended or killed during attacks on Israelis. Nevertheless, such practices have persisted for a long time. In 2012, the U.N. granted the Palestinian Authority observer status to participate in General Assembly sessions. Previously, the same status was conferred upon its predecesor, the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Hence, the question arises as to why Trump is taking this step at this moment in time. The answer may lie in the increasing traction that the Palestinian Authority’s campaign is gaining globally towards diplomatic recognition of Palestine as a state. To date, more than 145 nations across the globe have passed resolutions acknowledging Palestine. Some of US’ closest allies including France, UK, Australia, and Canada were set to declare recognition during the upcoming U.N. session, which is co-hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Rubio, possibly spurred by Trump, sees this session as a perfect backdrop for his visa ban. Consequently, President Abbas will not be there to receive the acknowledgement and applause of other world leaders. Regardless, his absence will not deter those leaders from confirming their support for Palestinian statehood. Also, not all PA officials will be missing from the event. The visa ban does not extend to members of the U.N. mission of the PA, who are already present in New York. As per U.N. regulations, these members cannot be barred from attending meetings because of their political affiliations.

This might seem perplexing, as in the grand scheme of things, these political gestures towards recognition of Palestine as a state are only symbolic for now. In order for Palestine to achieve full-fledged statehood, it must establish defined borders, a functional government, and all other infrastructure necessary for a modern nation-state – elements that are absent in present-day Palestine. From the perspective of Trump and Netanyahu, the best strategy might have been to disregard these movements without making an issue out of it, considering they don’t hold the U.N. in high regards to begin with.

The visa ban, on the other hand, puts a spotlight on the session, intensifies media attention, dramatizes the political tension, and hands a global platform over to the Palestinians and their supporters to voice their demands. Trump, perhaps fully aware of this, has turned a blind eye, showcasing his apathy towards the situation. This ban has been criticized by many who suggest that including the Palestinian Authority in the reconstruction of Gaza and perhaps the West Bank post the Hamas conflict will be crucial.

In response, Trump seems to suggest that he won’t require the PA because he anticipes a future where Palestinians will not exist therein. As reported by The Washington Post, Trump and his team are presently circulating a 38-page proposal for a revamped Gaza, starting with the ‘temporary’ relocation of two million Palestinians and culminating in substantial investment in development.

The proposal, named the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration, and Transformation Trust (GREAT), has been put together by the same Israelis who founded and currently manage the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. It is also worth mentioning that this Foundation hasn’t yet been effective at distributing food within the region, as indicated by reports of widespread famine. Earlier this year, Trump openly discussed an ambitious plan to depopulate Gaza and transform it into a Middle Eastern Riviera. This idea was widely lambasted as far-fetched, inhumane, and unrealistic.

Nevertheless, such a plan appears to be seriously considered now, particularly as the Israeli army readies itself for a new large-scale offensive to take over Gaza. Whether this becomes reality remains to be seen. Israel is currently struggling to recruit reservists willing to partake in the offensive. No countries approached so far to accept the Palestinian population, including South Sudan, have shown any interest.

Continuing attacks on civilian structures such as hospitals, schools, and other buildings in Gaza have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with the area being declared as being in a state of famine. Increasingly, these actions are leading to a perception, even among allies, of Israel as a rogue state. Trump looks at this blockade of diplomatic avenues, and the condemnation of diplomacy beneficiaries, as a way to strengthen his position, shore up Israeli allies, and expose the weakness of his detractors. Regardless of the upcoming U.N. proceedings, his tactics appear destined to yield increased damages and spawn deeper global estrangement from everything he is associated with.