The Palestinian resistance movement says Washington’s renewed visa restrictions violate agreements governing access to the United Nations headquarters, as the General Assembly votes 152-3 to allow Palestine’s president to address its 81st session by pre-recorded video.

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Hamas has condemned the United States’ refusal to grant visas to Palestinian officials seeking to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, accusing Washington of violating agreements governing access to the UN headquarters.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said on Monday that the decision was not an isolated administrative measure but part of what he described as a broader US policy of support for Israel.

“The decision constitutes a flagrant violation of the international conventions and agreements governing the work of the UN headquarters,” Qassem said.

The condemnation followed the US State Department’s decision to extend visa restrictions on officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for a second consecutive year.

Washington said the restrictions were being maintained because the Palestinian side had failed to meet commitments under US law and had taken actions it said undermined prospects for peace.

The State Department specifically cited Palestinian efforts to pursue international recognition of statehood outside direct negotiations with Israel, as well as legal proceedings against Israel at international courts.

The restrictions previously prevented Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials from attending the UN General Assembly in person in 2025, forcing Abbas to address the gathering by video.

The latest restrictions again prevent Abbas and other affected Palestinian officials from attending the New York meetings in person.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of the 1947 Agreement between the United Nations and the United States governing the UN headquarters in New York. The agreement provides protections for the movement of specified representatives and officials travelling to and from the headquarters district.

The scope and application of those provisions have been contested in the present dispute. The US State Department has maintained that its visa restrictions are authorised under American law, while Palestinian officials and Hamas have rejected that position.

On Thursday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution allowing the State of Palestine to participate in the general debate of the 81st session through a pre-recorded address by its president.

The resolution passed by 152 votes to three, with four abstentions. The United States, Israel and Paraguay voted against it.

Under the resolution, the Palestinian president’s pre-recorded statement will be played in the General Assembly Hall after being introduced by Palestine’s representative who is physically present at the Assembly.

Palestine has held non-member observer state status at the United Nations since 2012. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has said that 160 of the UN’s 193 member states recognise the State of Palestine.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also rejected Washington’s renewed restrictions and called for them to be lifted, while urging direct dialogue between the Palestinian and US sides.

The latest dispute follows a similar confrontation in 2025, when the General Assembly adopted a resolution permitting Palestine to participate virtually after Palestinian officials were denied entry visas.

The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on September 8, with the high-level general debate scheduled to begin on September 22.