U.S. announces widespread travel restrictions on Palestinians
WASHINGTON, Sep. 01 (YPA) – The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced new comprehensive restrictions that prohibit Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip from entering the United States.
The move is seen as an escalatory step in its policies toward the Palestinian cause. The new measures, which have recently taken effect, primarily target holders of Palestinian travel documents, closing the door on them for purposes of medical treatment, education, or visiting relatives.
According to press reports, the U.S. State Department sent a cable to its diplomatic missions on August 18, requesting the enforcement of these restrictions. The new policy broadens a previous decision issued on August 16 that had only suspended visitor visas for residents of the Gaza Strip. The U.S. administration is using Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as a pretext to systematically reject visa applications.
In a related development, the State Department had previously announced its decision to deny new visas and revoke existing ones for individuals associated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA), justifying the action as serving U.S. “national security interests.”
The administration claimed these measures were intended to hold the PA accountable for allegedly “failing to meet its obligations and undermining the prospects for peace,” adding that the restrictions would not be lifted until the PA “renounced” what it described as “terrorism.”
Experts’ analysis: A policy of pressure and double standards
Experts and analysts on regional affairs have stated that the U.S. justifications for imposing the restrictions raise profound questions about the true goals of these policies, especially as they ignore the PA’s role as a security partner for the Israeli occupation.
Analysts point out that Washington’s decision to punish its “loyal servant” demonstrates a clear double standard and confirms that these measures are merely a tool of political pressure aimed directly at the Palestinian people.
Catastrophic humanitarian and economic consequences
Experts have confirmed that the recent U.S. decisions will have serious repercussions on various aspects of Palestinian life. The restrictions will limit their right to travel and deal a severe blow to Palestinian students aspiring to study abroad and patients seeking medical treatment in the U.S.
The measures will also separate families and friends and prevent Palestinian businesspeople and professionals from attending conferences and expanding their businesses, thus stifling the Palestinian economy and limiting career development opportunities.
According to analysts, these actions are not punishments for governments but a direct punishment for the Palestinian people, adding to their daily suffering.
YPA