In a move preceding the UN General Assembly, the United States, under the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and approximately 80 other officials. Simultaneously, the US has denied some new visa applications. This action follows previous Palestinian representation at UN gatherings. The State Department official, choosing to remain anonymous, confirmed Friday that Abbas and other key figures within the Palestinian Authority are directly affected.
This decision by the US administration coincides with the Israeli military’s declaration of Gaza’s largest city as a war zone. Furthermore, in response to social media outcry, the State Department has halted a program designed to facilitate medical treatment in the US for injured Palestinian children from Gaza.