The United States has introduced visa restrictions on senior figures from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), accusing the two entities of breaching key peace commitments and fueling instability in the Middle East.
The move, announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of State, comes as part of a broader strategy to hold Palestinian leadership accountable for what Washington sees as continued defiance of agreements meant to guide the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
“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 State Department said.
In its latest report to Congress, the department concluded that both the PA and PLO are not meeting obligations under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002.
Among the violations cited is the Palestinian leadership’s effort to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, notably by engaging with international legal bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—a move the U.S. views as bypassing direct negotiations.
The report further accuses the PA and PLO of promoting and financially supporting terrorism, highlighting alleged instances of incitement, glorification of violence—particularly in educational materials—and ongoing payments to individuals convicted of terrorist acts and their families.
Although the State Department has not disclosed the identities or total number of officials impacted by the visa restrictions, the action underscores growing frustration in Washington over what it sees as the Palestinian leadership’s unwillingness to adhere to peace-related obligations.
The announcement comes amid heightened diplomatic strain and regional volatility, as U.S. policymakers seek to revive stagnant peace efforts. While reaffirming its support for a two-state solution, the administration has made it clear that accountability is essential.
This development marks a significant escalation in U.S. posture toward the Palestinian leadership, signaling that non-compliance with peace frameworks will now carry concrete diplomatic consequences.
