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.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their tensions through dialogue and engagement, as it pledged to w...
Iran's President Massoud Pezeshkian has begun a two day visit to Kazakhstan, with officials from both sides describing the trip as an opportunity to a...
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has successfully navigated a significant political hurdle with the approval of the 2026 social security budget...
In a dramatic Champions League league phase clash at Baku’s Tofiq Bəhramov Stadium, Qarabağ grabbed an early lead, but Ajax staged a thrilling com...
Uzbekistan will introduce a nationwide system to assess the resilience of officials and civil service candidates to corruption risks from 2026, accord...
In a dramatic Champions League league phase clash at Baku’s Tofiq Bəhramov Stadium, Qarabağ grabbed an early lead, but Ajax staged a thrilling comeback to win 4-2.
Uzbekistan will introduce a nationwide system to assess the resilience of officials and civil service candidates to corruption risks from 2026, according to a presidential decree adopted this week.
Military coups have reappeared across West Africa and the Sahel. Recent events in Guinea-Bissau and coup attempt in Benin add to a growing list of abrupt power shifts over the past five years.
Hate speech targeting Muslims and Christians in India surged by 74% in 2024, driven by election-season rhetoric and unrest in neighboring Bangladesh, according to a new report from the India Hate Lab, a Washington-based research organization.
Scores of demonstrators gathered outside the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo Tuesday (9 December) to protest against the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Pressure is mounting between Venezuela and the United States as both nations emphasise military preparedness and strategic positioning.
Iran and Saudi Arabia reiterated their commitment to enhance ties following a joint meeting with China in Tehran on Tuesday to follow up on implementation of the 2023 Beijing Agreement which resulted in resumption of their diplomatic relations after eight years.
The world’s leading minds and voices will be honoured on Wednesday, 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, as Nobel Prizes are presented in Stockholm and Oslo.
Ukraine "deeply appreciates" the humanitarian support of Pope Leo XIV. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting between the two at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, on Tuesday, 9 December.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their tensions through dialogue and engagement, as it pledged to work with the international community to help improve relations between the two countries.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has successfully navigated a significant political hurdle with the approval of the 2026 social security budget bill, securing a narrow victory in the National Assembly.
In a dramatic Champions League league phase clash at Baku’s Tofiq Bəhramov Stadium, Qarabağ grabbed an early lead, but Ajax staged a thrilling comeback to win 4-2.
Hungary’s move to secure guaranteed Russian gas transit through Türkiye has stabilised a key supply corridor, but the country’s continued reliance on Moscow raises questions.
Ukraine faces a narrowing diplomatic space as pressure builds around U.S. backed peace proposals, warning that the structure of the conflict may leave little room to avoid difficult territorial choices.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment