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U.S. announces visa restrictions for PLO and Palestinian Authority officials after biannual compliance review
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Summary
The State Department announced visa restrictions on members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority following a biannual compliance review that found noncompliance with U.S. statutory commitments; the action allows case-by-case waivers, and officials said specifics would be handled individually.
Tommy, a State Department spokesperson, said the U.S. will deny visas to certain members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority after a biannual review found those organizations not in compliance with the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002. "These actions reflect our national security interests and our commitment to holding the PLO and PA accountable for undermining the prospects for peace," Tommy said.
The spokesperson said the report covers a review period that ended in January 2025 and that the finding and consequent visa restrictions are the first such action under the current administration's review. Tommy stressed the measure is one of several policy options and that "a waiver may be considered on a case by case basis consistent with our national security interests." He declined to name specific individuals or provide a count of affected people, saying the waiver process and case-by-case considerations prevent a public listing at this time.
Reporters pressed whether the move was timed to recent international diplomatic activity, including public recognition of Palestinian statehood by some countries; Tommy said the biannual timing explains the notice and that the department would not speculate on private diplomatic consultations. He also declined to preview whether Arab states had been notified privately. The spokesperson repeated that the report is a routine biannual review and the administration chose to implement visa restrictions as one available response to findings of noncompliance.
The announcement does not describe broader measures such as economic sanctions or a cutoff of assistance; Tommy limited public comments to the report and the visa restriction action. He also said the department previously found noncompliance in prior administrations and noted differences in how various administrations have responded to such findings.
The department did not provide a public list of the people subject to visa restrictions and said specific determination and possible waivers would be handled under existing statutory procedures.
