US halts visitor visas for Gaza residents amid review of recent medical-humanitarian entries

The US State Department on Aug 18 announced it is suspending all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, including medical-humanitarian entries, while it conducts a “full and thorough review” of the recently issued visas. The decision was communicated via a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The policy change follows a campaign by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who shared videos of injured Gazan children arriving in the US for medical treatment and labeled the situation a “national security threat.” She credited herself for prompting the visa halt and contacted officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to voice her concerns.

Humanitarian organizations have voiced sharp criticism. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) warned that the suspension would have a “devastating and irreversible impact” on their ability to bring critically ill or injured Gazan children to the US for life-saving treatment.

Similarly, HEAL Palestine, which has evacuated dozens of children for urgent care, stressed the human cost of the policy shift.

Data from several outlets indicates that over 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas have been issued this year to holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, with 640 granted in May alone. These visas are commonly used by Palestinian patients seeking medical treatment in the US.

The visa suspension underscores the Trump administration’s tightening of vetting procedures, especially in cases involving medical or humanitarian entry. Right-wing pressure played a key role in prompting this abrupt policy shift.

Humanitarian advocates warn that this decision disproportionately punishes vulnerable children in Gaza who rely on overseas medical interventions—many of which are only available in the US.

The indefinite hold raises broader questions about the balance between national security measures and humanitarian obligations, especially amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.