The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officials. Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to push Gaza ceasefire talks and address the humanitarian crisis.
The U.S. State Department accuses the PA and PLO officials of obstructing peace efforts with Israel and announced visa bans for unnamed individuals, citing actions to internationalize the conflict and ongoing support for violence.
The PA and PLO, which represent the Palestinian people and have long sought international recognition of statehood, have not yet responded to the restrictions.
While the targeted individuals remain unnamed, the move underscores Washington’s firm stance against these groups amid rising diplomatic tensions.
A State Department spokesperson said, “It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace.”
This action contrasts with recent statements from Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, which have declared plans to formally recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in September.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praised the U.S. sanctions for their 'moral clarity,' criticising the 'double standards of those rushing to recognise a Palestinian state while ignoring its support for terror.'
The sanctions come after a U.N. conference led by France and Saudi Arabia to promote a two-state solution, which the U.S. and Israel boycotted. President Donald Trump warned that recognizing Palestinian statehood would “reward Hamas”.
Meanwhile, amid mounting humanitarian concerns in Gaza, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 31 July to revive stalled ceasefire negotiations and address the worsening crisis in the Strip.
A senior Israeli official indicated that discussions are moving toward a plan for a full hostage release, disarmament of Hamas, and demilitarisation of Gaza, while continuing military operations.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, “The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region.”
President Trump called the humanitarian situation in Gaza “terrible,” and stressed the severity of hunger, highlighting ongoing U.S. humanitarian aid efforts.
Recent ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt reached a deadlock over Israeli withdrawal terms, with no response yet from Hamas to Israel’s latest proposal.
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Kyrgyzstan's Jogorku Kenesh has passed a draft law in all three readings to rename the city of Jalal-Abad to Manas. The initiative originated from local residents and received unanimous support from the city council.
US. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior U.S. officials held rare direct virtual talks with their Chinese counterparts notably Defence Minister Dong Jun amid growing tensions.
Belarus released 52 prisoners of various nationalities on Thursday following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump, with the detainees heading to Lithuania alongside the U.S. delegation that negotiated their release, the U.S. embassy in Vilnius confirmed.
Afghanistan and Kazakhstan have signed a new trade agreement worth $2 million, further expanding economic ties between the two countries.
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A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Kyrgyzstan's Jogorku Kenesh has passed a draft law in all three readings to rename the city of Jalal-Abad to Manas. The initiative originated from local residents and received unanimous support from the city council.
US. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior U.S. officials held rare direct virtual talks with their Chinese counterparts notably Defence Minister Dong Jun amid growing tensions.
Belarus released 52 prisoners of various nationalities on Thursday following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump, with the detainees heading to Lithuania alongside the U.S. delegation that negotiated their release, the U.S. embassy in Vilnius confirmed.
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko recently held a five-hour meeting with John Cole, a representative of U.S. President Donald Trump, in Minsk.
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