European Union foreign ministers have urged the United States to reconsider its recent decision to deny entry visas to Palestinian officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
The appeal came during a meeting in Copenhagen, where ministers expressed concern over Washington’s move to revoke visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The US State Department announced the restrictions on Friday, stating they would apply before the UN gathering in New York.
While there was broad agreement on the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, ministers remained divided over whether to impose additional sanctions on Israel.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters that officials widely acknowledged the need for action but failed to reach consensus on concrete measures.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, chairing the meeting, said a growing number of member states believe stronger pressure may be required to influence Israel’s policies.
Outside the venue, demonstrators called on the EU to adopt tougher action over the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
Arab-Islamic Summit Committee Voices Regret
The stance from the EU coincided with a similar appeal from the Ministerial Committee formed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza.
Meeting in Amman on Saturday, the committee urged Washington to reverse its decision, stressing that it contradicted obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement, which guarantees access for Palestine as a permanent observer state.
In a statement posted by Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, the committee expressed ‘deep regret’ at the visa restrictions, warning that the move undermines opportunities for dialogue and diplomacy. It further cautioned that weakening the Palestinian Authority would hinder peace efforts and risk fuelling greater violence and instability in the region.
The US decision has sparked mounting criticism, with both European and Arab leaders arguing that excluding Palestinian representatives from the UN General Assembly would deal a blow to diplomatic engagement at a time of escalating tensions.
Observers say that while the EU has yet to reach agreement on stronger measures against Israel, the unified stance on the US visa ban reflects growing frustration over policies seen as undermining peace prospects in the Middle East.
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