Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 26, 2024, at U.N. headquarters. | Photo Credit: AP

India on Friday (September 19, 2025) voted in favour of a UN General Assembly decision that enables Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to handle its upcoming high-level session by way of video after the U.S. denied visas to Palestinian officers, stopping their participation in individual.

The 193-member General Assembly adopted the decision titled ‘Participation by the State of Palestine’ throughout its eightieth session, with 145 nations voting in favour, 5 in opposition to and 6 abstentions. The U.S. and Israel opposed the measure, whereas India was amongst these supporting it.

The decision expressed remorse over the U.S.’ determination to disclaim visas to and revoke visas of Palestinian representatives, which successfully barred them from taking part within the UN conferences.

It determined that President Abbas can tackle the General Debate of the eightieth UNGA session on September 25 by way of a “pre-recorded assertion”, which can be performed within the General Assembly Hall after introduction by its consultant bodily current within the venue.

The General Debate of the eightieth session of the UN General Assembly will start on September 23, with the Palestinian Head of State scheduled to handle world leaders on September 25.

The decision additionally allowed Palestine to ship statements by videoconference or by way of pre-recorded messages on the September 22 worldwide convention on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Palestine “may submit a pre-recorded statement of its President or other high-level representative” at any assembly or UN convention and at worldwide conferences and conferences “convened under the auspices of the General Assembly or, as appropriate, under the auspices of other organs of the United Nations” if Palestinian representatives are prevented from taking part in UN conferences, the decision stated.

Currently, Palestine, which has the standing of a “non-member observer state” since 2012, can take part in UN proceedings however doesn’t have voting rights. The solely different non-member Observer State on the UN is the Holy See.

In 1988, India turned one of many first international locations to recognise the State of Palestine with agency assist and dedication to the two-State resolution.

Published – September 20, 2025 09:00 am IST