The United States have reportedly tightened restrictions on visitor visas for Palestinians, with most applicants using Palestinian passports now being denied entry. The move comes just days after dozens of Palestinian officials were refused visas ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Earlier in August, visa applications from residents of Gaza had already been suspended. This new directive, however, is said to extend to Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, effectively blocking a broader group of applicants from traveling to the United States.
According to reports, a diplomatic cable dated August 18 instructed consular officers to reject non-immigrant visa requests from Palestinian Authority passport holders. The measure would prevent Palestinians from entering the US for purposes such as business, study, or medical treatment, though officials framed the move as part of compliance with national security laws.
