UN urges US to uphold host duties despite Palestine sanctions
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The US State Department announced sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, accusing them of undermining peace efforts
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The United Nations headquarters building is seen from inside the General Assembly hall on September 21, 2021 in New York (AP)
The United Nations has expressed hope that the United States will fulfill its obligations as host country by allowing individuals to attend UN events, despite new U.S. sanctions on the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), UN spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday.
"Our expectation on this is, of course, that the United States will continue to uphold its own legal obligations under the host country agreement, which, as you know … enables people to come into the country in order to go about UN business here at headquarters," Haq stated during a briefing.
The comment follows Thursday’s announcement by the U.S. State Department of sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, accusing them of undermining peace efforts as US officials work to allegedly salvage ceasefire talks in Gaza, with the measures announced on Thursday.
The sanctions bar those targeted from obtaining US travel visas, though the State Department did not name specific individuals.
"It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace," the State Department said in a statement, adding that the two Palestinian groups had "taken actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel," including through the International Criminal Court.
Both have continued "to support terrorism," the statement further claimed.
The sanctions were announced as US special envoy Steve Witkoff prepared to arrive in "Israel" on Thursday to push for progress in Gaza ceasefire talks and address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
PA responds
The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incitement against the Palestinian people, the PLO, the PA, and its diplomatic cadres, calling for "urgent international protection."
The ministry emphasized that the escalating campaigns come against the backdrop of Palestinian diplomatic achievements and the recognition of the State of Palestine by influential countries.
It warned against the Israeli occupation exploiting such campaigns to escalate its arbitrary measures against the Palestinian people, their institutions, their leadership, and their diplomatic cadres.
The ministry reiterated its call on all countries and the international community to "assume their responsibilities in stopping the liquidation and genocide to which our people are being subjected."
