According to The New York Times, the administration of US President Donald Trump has expanded visa restrictions on Palestinian passport holders by suspending all types of non-immigrant visitor visas.
The suspension now includes visa applications for medical treatment, university studies, business, and visits to friends or family.
The move, announced by the US State Department on August 18 to embassies and consulates, significantly expands restrictions that were previously only applied to residents of Gaza.
In addition, this latest policy also targets Palestinians in the West Bank and diaspora communities.
The US State Department said the decision was made on national security grounds, accusing Palestinian leaders of failing to reject violence.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration revoked the visas of several members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority, preventing them from attending the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.
