Palestinians Will No Longer Be Offered US Visas
The United States has suspended nearly all visa approvals for holders of Palestinian Authority passports. The move effectively blocks Palestinians from entering the country for medical care, education, family visits, or business. Exceptions only exist for those with dual nationality who can use another passport, or for those who already hold valid visas.
The new restrictions go further than previous policies, which largely targeted residents of Gaza. Now, Palestinians across the West Bank and the diaspora are also caught in a blanket suspension. This includes humanitarian visas for children in need of life-saving medical treatment, a practice condemned by aid groups who describe it as a direct attack on the vulnerable.
U.S. Has Halted Medical Visas for Gaza, Blocking Lifesaving Treatment for Children
The USA’s State Department has suspended all visitor visas for residents of Gaza, including those issued for urgent medical treatment, in a move that humanitarian groups are calling devastating and cruel. The decision effectively blocks injured and sick Palestinian children from traveling to the United States for lifesaving care.
The policy also extends into the diplomatic realm. Dozens of Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, have had their visas revoked or denied ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September. While the Palestinian mission to the UN technically remains protected under international agreements, its representatives will be prevented from traveling to New York to speak.
The U.S. government claims the move is justified on national security grounds, citing a failure of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO to uphold peace commitments. In practice, the decision silences Palestinians at a moment of unprecedented violence and displacement. It denies children medical care, severs students from their studies, and prevents families from reuniting.
This is not just a tightening of immigration policy. It is a political act that deepens the isolation of Palestinians while protecting Israel from accountability on the world stage.