FILE PHOTO: Palestinian passports belonging to members of the Banat Gaza, which means "Girls of Gaza", after fleeing the war in Khan Younis, Gaza, following the events of October 7, 2023, are displayed in Obour City, Egypt July 15, 2025. REUTERS/Hadeer Mahmoud/File Photo
US Expands Visa Restrictions to Nearly All Palestinian Passport Holders
New diplomatic cable extends restrictions beyond Gaza to include West Bank residents and broader Palestinian diaspora
Scope of New Restrictions
According to BBC NEWS: BBC News The development significantly expands previous restrictions that were limited to Gaza residents. This newly-reported decree affects a much wider group, including people living in the West Bank and the broader Palestinian diaspora.
According to reports by The New York Times and CNN, US consular officers were instructed to refuse non-immigrant visas to “all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders.”
Diplomatic Cable Details
The communication, dated August 18, reportedly instructs consular officers to perform additional reviews of each Palestinian applicant, which effectively amounts to a blanket ban on issuing visas to Palestinians using PA passports.
Who Is Affected
- Palestinians seeking business travel to the United States
- Students hoping to study at American institutions
- Patients requiring medical treatment in the US
- West Bank residents with Palestinian Authority passports
- Palestinian diaspora members worldwide
Note: Palestinians able to make visa applications using other passports remain unaffected by these restrictions.
High-Profile Cases
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was among dozens of Palestinian officials recently blocked from attending the UN General Assembly session in New York. US officials revoked his visa and accused both the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which Abbas leads, of undermining peace efforts.
State Department Response
While the Department of State did not explicitly confirm the move, a spokesperson stated that the administration is “taking concrete steps in compliance with US law and our national security” regarding announced visa restrictions.
“Every visa decision is a national security decision, and the State Department is vetting and adjudicating visa decisions for PA passport holders accordingly.”
Context: October 7 Attack and Aftermath
*According to Hamas-run health ministry
International Developments
The restrictions come as several US allies have announced recognition of Palestinian statehood under certain conditions:
However, US Vice-President JD Vance has stated that Washington has “no plans” to follow suit in recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Additional Trump Administration Measures
The visa restrictions represent part of a broader toughening of the administration’s stance, which has also included:
- Crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses
- Continued steadfast support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas
- Increased scrutiny of Palestinian Authority and PLO activities
Unclear Motivations
It remains unclear what specifically prompted the reported move, though it aligns with the Trump administration’s steadfast support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, which the US designates as a terrorist organization.
The policy effectively extends previous Gaza-specific restrictions to include the broader Palestinian population, representing a significant escalation in visa restrictions affecting Palestinian nationals.
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