US suspends most visas for Palestinian passport-holders, reports say

The US has reportedly suspended most visas for Palestinian passport-holders, denying them to almost all applicants, impacting those in Gaza and the West Bank. Following the denial of visas to 80 Palestinian officials before the UN General Assembly, this move is seen as a wider restriction on Palestinian visitors. The US Department of State has not confirmed the decision, citing compliance with national security measures and US law. This development, revealed in a diplomatic cable dated 18 August, imposes a blanket ban on issuing visas to Palestinians using Palestinian Authority passports for various travel purposes.