WASHINGTON — August 1, 2025 — In a major escalation of its Middle East policy, the Trump administration announced Thursday that it will impose sanctions on officials from both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), citing violations of U.S. law and continued support for terrorism.
According to a formal notice delivered to Congress by the U.S. State Department, both entities are in noncompliance with two key pieces of legislation: the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA).
“These steps undermine the very foundation of the peace process,” a senior State Department official said. “It is in our national security interest to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable.”
Violations Include “Pay-to-Slay,” Incitement, and ICC Appeals
Among the cited violations are:
- The “pay-to-slay” policy, under which the Palestinian Authority distributes financial stipends to individuals convicted of terror attacks and to families of those killed while attacking Israeli civilians and soldiers.
- The glorification of terrorism in school textbooks and official media.
- Efforts to “internationalize” the conflict by bringing cases against Israel before bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ)—a move the U.S. claims violates prior commitments to direct negotiations under UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
These actions, U.S. officials argue, are not only in breach of past agreements but also constitute “one-sided legal warfare” against Israel, jeopardizing any prospects for a negotiated peace.
Travel Bans and Diplomatic Restrictions
Under Section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA, the United States will begin denying entry visas to top-ranking PLO and PA officials. While specific names were not released, the sanctions are expected to impact the Palestinian leadership’s diplomatic outreach, especially at the United Nations and in Western capitals.
The administration also warned that additional financial and diplomatic penalties could follow if the PA fails to reverse course.
Part of a Broader Strategy to Back Israel
The sanctions reflect a larger realignment in U.S. Middle East policy under President Trump, who has consistently prioritized security guarantees for Israel and bilateral negotiations over multilateral or legal approaches that, in the administration’s view, unfairly target the Jewish state.
“President Trump has been clear: America will not fund or facilitate institutions that reward terrorism or undermine Israel through backdoor legal campaigns,” a senior White House advisor said.
The move is likely to be welcomed in Jerusalem, where Israeli leaders have long called for international pressure on the PA over its martyr payment program and refusal to engage in direct peace talks.
Palestinian Backlash Expected
Palestinian officials are expected to condemn the sanctions as politically motivated and accuse the U.S. of further entrenching its bias toward Israel. Over the past year, Palestinian leaders have increasingly turned to international courts to accuse Israel of war crimes and occupation, efforts the U.S. maintains are counterproductive and unilateral.
Nonetheless, Thursday’s sanctions mark one of the most forceful U.S. responses to date, signaling the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance stance on actions it views as threats to Israel’s security and the regional peace process.
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