The move extends restrictions that began earlier in August, when the State Department blocked visitor visas for residents of Gaza. Soon after, it was revealed that Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials were also being denied entry, preventing figures such as PA President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. By this past weekend, the restrictions had widened to cover Palestinians in the West Bank as well as passport holders abroad.

The decision comes against the backdrop of the devastating war between Israel and Hamas, ignited by the militant group’s October 2023 assault that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of 250 hostages. Israel’s military response has led to catastrophic destruction across Gaza, with an estimated 61,000 Palestinians killed. The United Nations has accused Israel of causing a famine it labeled a “failure of humanity.”

At the same time, several U.S. allies—including the U.K., France, and Canada—are weighing whether to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. The diplomatic cable circulated by the U.S., however, reiterated Washington’s stance that it does not recognize the Palestinian Authority as a foreign government.
Explaining the suspension, the State Department said the measure is intended to ensure thorough vetting of applicants, with a spokesperson telling CNN: “Every visa decision is a national security decision, and the State Department is vetting and adjudicating visa decisions for PA passport holders accordingly.”

For now, the freeze applies strictly to nonimmigrant visas, meaning it affects temporary travel rather than long-term immigration. With the policy now fully in effect, Palestinian travelers will face sweeping barriers to entering the United States, even as diplomatic negotiations continue and the humanitarian crisis deepens in the region.