U.S. halts Gaza visitor visas

The State Department confirmed on Saturday that all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are on hold while it conducts “a full and thorough” review. Officials said only “a small number” of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but declined to give figures.

According to monthly department data, the U.S. issued more than 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas to holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents so far in 2025, including 640 in May. The documents are provided to residents of the West Bank and Gaza, though the statistics do not separate the territories.

The freeze followed claims by far-right activist Laura Loomer, an ally of President Donald Trump, who said on social media that Palestinian “refugees” had entered the U.S. this month. Her remarks prompted Republican lawmakers, including Representative Chip Roy of Texas and Representative Randy Fine of Florida, to call for inquiries, with Fine labelling the issue a “national security risk.”

Pro-Palestine groups have strongly criticised the suspension. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said it reflected the “intentional cruelty” of the Trump administration. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund warned that the decision would block access to vital medical treatment for children in Gaza.

“This policy will have a devastating and irreversible impact on our ability to bring injured and critically ill children from Gaza to the United States for lifesaving medical treatment—a mission that has defined our work for more than 30 years,” the charity said.

Gaza remains in humanitarian crisis following the conflict that erupted on 7 October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, local health officials report.

The U.S. has not offered to host Palestinians displaced by the fighting, though sources told Reuters that Israel and South Sudan are in discussions on possible resettlement plans.

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