America stops granting visas to all Palestinian passports holders

The US State Department has instructed its diplomats to stop the approval of most visas for Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, and holders of Palestinian passports residing abroad.

According to CNN, the internal message, dated August 18, signed by Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, informed all embassies and consulates of refusing to grant non -immigrant visas “to all qualified Palestinian Authority passports” who use this passport to apply for a visa. The instructions were issued for embassies to do so “immediately.”

Non -immigrant visas include a wide range of visas, including student visas, professors, tourists, businessmen who wish to medical treatment.

The comprehensive rejection policy, which was reported by the New York Times for the first time, is part of a series of measures taken by the Trump administration to prevent Palestinians from entering the United States.

On August 16, the US State Department announced the suspension of “all visiting visas for individuals from Gaza” pending a review of the matter.

And Friday, the agency announced the cancellation and refusal to grant visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, before the United Nations General Assembly.

These restrictions come at a time when a number of countries are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state, and in light of the continuation of the war in Gaza.

In the diplomatic telegram, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is taking this measure “to ensure that these requests are subject to the necessary audit and examination protocols to ensure the identity of the applicant and his eligibility to obtain a visa under American law.”

A US State Department spokesman said: “The Trump administration takes tangible steps in compliance with American law and our national security regarding the declared visa restrictions and cancellation of the Palestinian Authority passports holders.”

He continued: “Every decision related to the visa is a decision related to national security, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs examines and issues judgments regarding visa decisions for Palestinian Authority passports holders accordingly.”

According to the announcement, the refusal policy does not apply to the Palestinians who apply for immigration visas or those who apply for non -immigrant visas using a different passport.

The announcement said: “This guidance includes applicants to obtain a diplomatic or official visa and for individuals involved in diplomatic and official travel purposes who apply for a visa for the Palestinian Authority passports.”