US Halts Gaza Visitor Visas Over Terrorism Concerns Linked to Hamas, Sparks Controversy
The United States has temporarily suspended visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, following allegations that some organizations facilitating these visas have ties to terrorist groups such as Hamas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed this development during an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
In a statement issued over the weekend, the State Department announced its decision to halt all visitor visas for temporary entry into the U.S. for medical and humanitarian reasons. The move comes after evidence was presented to the Trump administration by numerous congressional offices regarding the links between these organizations and terrorist groups.
Rubio did not disclose the details of this evidence or the specific congressional offices that presented it. However, far-right Trump ally Laura Loomer has claimed credit for the suspension, citing concerns about the national security threat posed by families arriving from Gaza.
Loomer specifically criticized HEAL Palestine, an American nonprofit dedicated to providing critical aid to Palestinian families, including transporting children with severe injuries, psychological trauma, and malnourishment to U.S. hospitals for treatment. The group has evacuated 63 injured children and 148 individuals in total.
In response to the suspension of visitor visas, HEAL Palestine issued a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that their program is a medical treatment initiative rather than a refugee resettlement program. As of May, the U.S. had issued close to 4,000 visas to individuals holding Palestinian Authority passports, allowing them to seek medical treatment in America. This figure includes Palestinians living outside of Gaza, such as in the West Bank.
Rubio clarified during the interview that while a small number of visas have been issued to children, these visas are typically accompanied by adults. He stated that the program would be paused and reevaluated to ensure proper vetting of these visas. Rubio emphasized that the U.S. would not partner with organizations that have links or sympathies towards Hamas, although he did not name any specific groups.
The State Department has yet to provide further details about the evidence cited by Rubio. President Donald Trump acknowledged last month that there is “real starvation” in Gaza, a statement that contradicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position on the humanitarian crisis. Trump asserted that the U.S. would become more involved in addressing this crisis.