New York: The United States (US) has again barred Palestinian officials from attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in person, with Washington citing concerns over Palestinian Authority reforms and activities it says undermine peace efforts.

The US State Department said on Wednesday that it had extended visa restrictions to members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and officials of the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is among those denied entry for the General Assembly, which begins its high level segment in New York next week.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the decision, describing it as unjustified and saying it conflicts with efforts to rebuild Palestinian American relations and create conditions for a two state solution.

Washington gave a different explanation. The State Department said the restrictions were being extended because of what it described as the Palestinian Authority’s failure to implement reforms it had committed to undertake, along with activities that the US says undermine prospects for peace.

The decision means Palestinian officials will again be unable to participate in the UN gathering in New York in person. The Trump administration took a similar step last year, when Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials were also prevented from attending the General Assembly.

The dispute highlights a practical issue surrounding Palestinian participation at the UN. While the Palestinian leadership has observer state status at the UN, its senior officials still require permission to enter the US when UN meetings are held in New York.

The latest restrictions therefore affect not only the US Palestinian relationship but also how Palestinian officials participate in one of the UN’s most prominent annual diplomatic forums.

The Palestinian side says the decision could undermine diplomatic efforts towards a two state solution, while Washington maintains that its restrictions are linked to its concerns over Palestinian governance and actions it considers harmful to peace efforts.