Washington has faced criticism from Brussels for extending entry restrictions on representatives from Ramallah seeking to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The European Union expressed regret over the decision, which marks the second consecutive year the U.S. has blocked the delegation, and called on the State Department to reconsider its position before the annual summit begins.

The visa sanctions include Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and were extended after Washington cited Palestinian efforts to pursue cases against Israel at the ICC and ICJ. The UN General Assembly voted 152-3 to allow Abbas to deliver his address via video link, with Israel, the U.S., and Paraguay voting against the resolution.