The US says it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials wishing to travel to New York next month to attend the UN General Assembly session.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed them for undermining peace efforts and for seeking the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state.
The decision is unusual - the US, as host country, is expected to facilitate travel for officials of all countries wishing to visit the UN headquarters.
The ban comes as France spearheads international efforts to recognise a state of Palestine at the GA session. Donald Trump's administration has fully backed Israel in voicing opposition to such a move.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has constantly rejected the idea of a two-state solution, claiming that recognition of a Palestinian state would reward Hamas's monstrous terrorism.
This announcement follows a lengthy response to ongoing violence in the region, marked by a significant military campaign in Gaza, resulting in substantial casualties.
The Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, remains a contentious figure in the peace process, balancing control between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank.
While the PLO has observer status at the UN, allowing participation in meetings, this latest US decision raises questions on international diplomatic protocols regarding attendance at UN meetings.
