Washington, DC [US], July 31 (ANI): The United States has imposed new sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA), citing continued support for terrorism and actions that undermine peace efforts. The US State Department announced on Wednesday that PLO and PA officials will be denied visas to enter the United States, pursuant to findings that both entities are not complying with longstanding international commitments.
“The State Department has reported to Congress that the PLO and PA are not in compliance with their commitments under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA),” the department said in a statement. The violations cited include initiating and supporting international actions that contradict commitments to UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, efforts to internationalize the conflict with Israel through bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), and continued support for terrorism, including incitement to violence in educational materials.
Additionally, the US State Department accused the Palestinian Authority of continuing to provide payments and benefits to individuals involved in terrorism and their families—a longstanding concern often referred to as the “pay-for-slay” policy.
In response, the United States is now imposing visa restrictions on members of both the PLO and the PA under section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA. “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,” the department stated.
The announcement comes amid an intensifying humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel’s military operations, now approaching their 22nd month, have led to the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to reports cited by Al Jazeera. The United Nations has raised alarms, comparing the situation to genocide and warning that hunger and disease could claim more lives due to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid.
The conflict has also fueled escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, where illegal Israeli settlements have expanded, and nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023—some in attacks by Israeli settlers, others by Israeli military forces.
While the sanctions mark a significant escalation in the US stance toward the Palestinian leadership, Washington has reiterated its commitment to a negotiated two-state solution. However, the latest move suggests growing US frustration with the PA’s actions on the international stage and its internal policies. (ANI)
About The Author
