(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) EU urges US to lift travel ban on Palestinian delegation for UNGA meeting | United Nations News | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/19/eu-urges-us-to-lift-travel-ban-on-palestinian-delegation-for-unga-meeting)                                               (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/9/19/eu-urges-us-to-lift-travel-ban-on-palestinian-delegation-for-unga-meeting)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AFP__20260909__C7RP2KM__v1__HighRes__PalestinianPoliticsEconomy-1789805754.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AFP__20260909__C7RP2KM__v1__HighRes__PalestinianPoliticsEconomy-1789805754.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.6c6e15fe.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.e3bc53a0.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.74fd263a.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~5db14389.c7afea12.r2.chunk.css) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/vendor~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blo~5f903362.2e08e417.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~41c72a2c.3f309873.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~06be7c11.0625e98d.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/article-page~493df0b3.accd71c7.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (eu-urges-us-to-lift-travel-ban-on-palestinian-delegation-for-unga-meeting@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up        Navigation menu caret-left    (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/israel-palestine-conflict/) Israel-Palestine conflict    (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/6/9/shackled-bleeding-raped-palestinians-describe-abuse-in-israels-prisons) Shackled, bleeding, raped: Abuse in Israeli prisons   (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/1/this-is-an-apartheid-regime-critics-decry-israels-new-death-penalty-law) ‘This is an apartheid regime’   (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/9/did-netanyahu-really-defy-trump-in-bombing-iran) Does Trump have real leverage over Netanyahu?   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Listen   Listen (3 mins)       Save       Share EU urges US to lift travel ban on Palestinian delegation for UNGA meeting on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Flf0ku2) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=EU%20urges%20US%20to%20lift%20travel%20ban%20on%20Palestinian%20delegation%20for%20UNGA%20meeting&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Flf0ku2) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Flf0ku2) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/lf0ku2)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info      (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the foundation stone ceremony of the Innovation and Excellence Compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah on September 9, 2026.)   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the foundation stone ceremony of the Innovation and Excellence Compound in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on September 9, 2026 [Zain Jaafar/AFP]   (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458)     By  (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458) Al Jazeera Staff    Published On 19 Sep 2026 19 Sep 2026    The European Union says it regrets the denial of visas by the United States for the second year running to Palestinian Authority (PA) officials seeking to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, urging it to reconsider the decision. The statement on Saturday comes just days after the UNGA (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/17/us-extends-visa-ban-on-palestinian-officials-before-un-general-assembly) voted to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the body during the upcoming 81st session via a prerecorded statement. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/14/animated-map-shows-spread-of-illegal-israeli-settlements-across-palestine) Animated map shows spread of illegal Israeli settlements across Palestine  list 2 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/11/settlers-soldiers-and-israeli-impunity-in-the-west-bank) Settlers, soldiers, and Israeli impunity in the West Bank  list 3 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/9/10/israeli-checkpoints-in-the-west-bank-are-choking-the-palestinian-economy) Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank are choking the Palestinian economy   end of list  “In light of its existing headquarters agreements with the UN and its obligations as host state, we urge the United States for this decision to be reconsidered,” said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesman for the EU’s diplomatic service. On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed regret at Washington’s decision, adding he was concerned about its impact “on the ability of the State of Palestine to participate fully in the work of the United Nations”. The US Department of State (https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/sanctioning-officials-of-the-palestinian-authority-and-members-of-the-palestine-liberation-organization-2/) announced on Wednesday that it would prolong visa sanctions on officials of the PA and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). “As a consequence of their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace, the United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials,” the State Department said in a statement. The department accused the PA of violating US law by bypassing direct negotiations to seek international recognition of Palestinian statehood. Advertisement    It also cited the PA’s decision to take its dispute with Israel to international courts and its financial support for people the US and Israel label as convicted attackers and their families.      No Israeli officials face equivalent US travel restrictions, despite an (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/21/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-for-israeli-pm-netanyahu-for-war-crimes-in-gaza) International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Abbas’s address this year is expected to push for international recognition of Palestinian statehood and revive momentum for a two-state solution, building on a wave of formal (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/21/canada-australia-join-uk-in-recognising-palestinian-statehood) recognitions by the United Kingdom, France, Canada and other Western nations last year. His speech will also highlight the (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/16/egypts-el-sisi-rejects-displacement-of-palestinians-from-gaza) severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza alongside the rapid growth of illegal Israeli settlements and settler (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/8/24/why-pogrom-best-describes-whats-happening-in-the-occupied-west-bank) pogroms across the occupied West Bank. Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the UN resolution passed on Thursday allowing Abbas to address the assembly next week, saying it “represents a breaking of the attempt to prevent Palestine’s participation” in the UNGA’s annual session.            aj-logo             aj-logo             aj-logo       Advertisement          About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss     (https://bsky.app/profile/aljazeera.com) bluesky     (https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish) tiktok-colored-outline                  (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network