Abbas warns of new Nakba at UN as US visa ban forces video address

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned the UN General Assembly on Thursday that Palestinians face the prospect of another Nakba unless the international community acts on its commitments to self-determination. The 90-year-old leader delivered a pre-recorded video address for the second consecutive year after the Trump administration imposed a visa ban on all Palestinian officials and civil society entities that have worked with the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court.

Abbas rejected what he called unlawful punitive measures and said his government has fulfilled its obligations, including a comprehensive national reform programme and a commitment to non-violence and the two-state solution. He argued Palestinians should not be punished for seeking an end to the occupation through UN legal bodies.

“We reject these unlawful punitive measures, and we reject the accusations and justifications on which they were based.”

The Vanguard reported that the US visa denial violates the 1947 UN-USA Headquarters Agreement, which requires the United States to issue visas to state delegations promptly and without charge regardless of bilateral relations. The article described the ban as retaliation for Palestinian legal actions at the ICJ and ICC challenging Israel's occupation and settlement policies.

While the Trump administration has largely abandoned the two-state solution, Western allies including Canada, the UK, France and Spain recognised the State of Palestine last year and opened diplomatic offices for the Palestinian Authority.