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 said it was taking concrete steps in compliance with US law and our national security.
The decision was issued in a diplomatic cable dated 18 August, reported by the New York Times and CNN. US consular officers were told to refuse non-immigrant visas to all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders.
This ban applies to Palestinians hoping to come to the US for a range of purposes, including business, study, or medical treatment. The move effectively represents a blanket ban on issuing visas to Palestinians.
Palestinians who are able to make visa applications using other passports were said to be unaffected.
It remains unclear what prompted this decision, though it could align with the Trump administration's long-standing support for Israel's military actions against Hamas in Gaza. Additionally, notable announcements by other US allies—such as the UK, Canada, and France—regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state add to the ongoing complexities.
The restriction on Palestinian visas has escalated concerns over diplomatic relations and peace efforts, with President Mahmoud Abbas among those recently blocked from attending the UN General Assembly in New York.
