US officials have further restricted visitor visas for Palestinians by denying them to almost all applicants who use a Palestinian passport, media reports say. The development comes days after 80 Palestinian officials were denied visas ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Earlier in August, visitor visas were paused for people hoping to travel from the Palestinian territory of Gaza. This newly-reported decree would affect a wider group, including people living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Department of State did not explicitly confirm the move but stated it was taking concrete steps in compliance with US law and national security.
The decision was issued in a diplomatic cable dated 18 August, as reported by the New York Times and CNN. US consular officers were directed to refuse non-immigrant visas to all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders. This includes Palestinians hoping to travel to the US for various purposes, such as business, study, or medical treatment.
The measure requires officials to conduct additional reviews of visa applications from Palestinian Authority passport holders, effectively creating a blanket ban on issuing visas. However, Palestinians using other passports are reportedly unaffected.
It remains unclear what prompted this latest move, although recent statements indicate the Trump administration's ongoing support for Israel amidst its military actions against Hamas in Gaza. This news follows similar announcements from other countries, including the UK, Canada, and France, regarding recognition of a Palestinian state under specific conditions, while US Vice-President JD Vance noted that Washington had no plans to recognize Palestinian statehood.
The visa restrictions extend to the wider Palestinian diaspora and have significant implications for Palestinians seeking international travel opportunities, further straining US-Palestinian relations.
Earlier in August, visitor visas were paused for people hoping to travel from the Palestinian territory of Gaza. This newly-reported decree would affect a wider group, including people living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Department of State did not explicitly confirm the move but stated it was taking concrete steps in compliance with US law and national security.
The decision was issued in a diplomatic cable dated 18 August, as reported by the New York Times and CNN. US consular officers were directed to refuse non-immigrant visas to all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders. This includes Palestinians hoping to travel to the US for various purposes, such as business, study, or medical treatment.
The measure requires officials to conduct additional reviews of visa applications from Palestinian Authority passport holders, effectively creating a blanket ban on issuing visas. However, Palestinians using other passports are reportedly unaffected.
It remains unclear what prompted this latest move, although recent statements indicate the Trump administration's ongoing support for Israel amidst its military actions against Hamas in Gaza. This news follows similar announcements from other countries, including the UK, Canada, and France, regarding recognition of a Palestinian state under specific conditions, while US Vice-President JD Vance noted that Washington had no plans to recognize Palestinian statehood.
The visa restrictions extend to the wider Palestinian diaspora and have significant implications for Palestinians seeking international travel opportunities, further straining US-Palestinian relations.
