U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on Palestinian Passport Holders Amid Rising Tensions

Sat Sep 13 2025 13:46:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The United States has suspended most visitor visas for Palestinian passport holders, denying entry to a significant number of applicants. This move follows recent incidents involving denied visas for Palestinian officials.

The U.S. government has reportedly enacted new restrictions that effectively deny visitor visas to nearly all Palestinians holding Palestinian Authority passports. This decision follows a recent denial of visas to multiple Palestinian officials and comes amidst growing tensions linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The new visa policy also extends to Palestinians in the West Bank, significantly impacting their ability to travel for various purposes, including business and education.

The U.S. has intensified its visa restrictions for Palestinians, with reports indicating that almost all applicants using Palestinian Authority passports are being denied visitor visas. This decision comes shortly after 80 Palestinian officials were blocked from attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Earlier in August, the U.S. had already suspended visas for individuals seeking to travel from the Gaza Strip, but the newly reported measures broaden the scope to include those living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The U.S. Department of State has not confirmed these changes explicitly but stated that it is taking steps to comply with U.S. laws and national security policies. According to reports, the restriction was detailed in a diplomatic communication dated August 18, mandating consular officers to refuse visas to all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders.
This blanket ban essentially means that Palestinians seeking entry to the U.S. for business, education, or medical reasons will now face more stringent scrutiny.

Those Palestinians who hold other passports may still apply for visas without facing the same level of restrictions. The motive behind the new policy remains unclear, but it follows the U.S. administration's ongoing support for Israel and its military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

This move comes amid broader geopolitical shifts, with several other nations, including the UK and Canada, moving to recognize a Palestinian state under certain conditions—an approach the Trump administration has publicly dismissed.

Compounding this situation, a recent crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests across U.S. university campuses reflects a tightened grip by the administration. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, among many others, was recently barred from the UN meeting, adding to the mounting diplomatic tensions.

With the ongoing conflict exacerbated by a significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the U.S. has expanded its visa policy to encompass a larger segment of the Palestinian population. A State Department spokesperson reiterated that decisions regarding visa applications from Palestinian Authority passport holders are considered national security matters, stressing thorough vetting procedures.