Jerusalem: The US State Department has made a significant announcement, halting all visitor visas for people from Gaza. This decision is part of a move to conduct a "full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days," as stated by the agency on X.
According to BBC, the decision has been met with criticism from several Palestinian rights groups. The Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, which has been instrumental in evacuating 169 children from Gaza in 2024 for treatment abroad, expressed concern over the halt. These children have been taken to various locations across the Middle East, Europe, South Africa, and the US for medical care.
Gaza, nearly two years into a war following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has experienced significant damage to its medical infrastructure and is currently facing severe food shortages. Humanitarian organisations have accused Israel of imposing a blockade since March, which they claim has restricted non-governmental organisations from delivering adequate food supplies into the region. However, the Israeli government maintains that its aid regulations are intended to prevent supplies from falling into the hands of Hamas.
UN-backed food security organisations, along with humanitarian groups and journalists working within Gaza, have raised alarms about the impending famine conditions. In a public statement issued in late July, major international news outlets, including the BBC, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and Reuters, highlighted the dire situation facing journalists in Gaza, who are at risk of starvation while continuing to report on the crisis.
US President Donald Trump acknowledged the severe food scarcity in Gaza in July, describing it as "real starvation." Nonetheless, his administration continues to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amidst these ongoing challenges.