Gaza Visas Halted: US Review Delays Treatment for Sick Children

Executive Summary

The US State Department has halted all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, citing the need for a “full and thorough review” of recently issued medical-humanitarian visas.

Palestinian rights groups, including the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), have condemned the decision, warning of severe and irreversible impacts on critically ill children seeking life-saving treatment.

The policy change followed criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who subsequently claimed credit for influencing the decision to pause the visas.

The Story So Far

The decision to halt visas follows public pressure from a far-right activist who had criticized the medical-humanitarian visa program.

Gaza’s medical infrastructure has been significantly damaged during the ongoing conflict, leading to severe food shortages and warnings of famine, making external medical treatment critical for critically ill children.

Why This Matters

The halt to visitor visas will severely impact critically ill children from Gaza, preventing them from accessing potentially lifesaving medical treatment in the United States.

The decision suggests that U.S. State Department visa policies can be influenced by public pressure from political activists.

This action further exacerbates the dire humanitarian and medical crisis in Gaza, where healthcare infrastructure is severely damaged and essential services are scarce.

Who Thinks What?

The US State Department announced a halt to all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza to conduct a “full and thorough review” of recently issued medical-humanitarian visas.

Palestinian rights groups, such as the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), condemned the decision, stating it will have a devastating impact on their ability to bring critically ill children from Gaza to the United States for lifesaving medical treatment.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer criticized the visa program and subsequently claimed credit for the decision to temporarily halt the visas.

The US State Department has announced a halt to all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, citing the need for a “full and thorough review” of recently issued medical-humanitarian visas. This decision has drawn immediate criticism from Palestinian rights groups, who warn of severe consequences for critically ill children seeking treatment.

Visa Program Under Review

The agency stated on X that the pause is intended to scrutinize the process and procedures used to issue a “small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.” The move aims to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the visa issuance system.

The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) condemned the decision, stating it “will have a devastating and irreversible impact on our ability to bring injured and critically ill children from Gaza to the United States for lifesaving medical treatment.”

Activist Influence

This policy shift follows a series of posts on X by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who had criticized the visa program and urged its termination. Loomer subsequently claimed credit for the decision, thanking Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the temporary halt to the visas.

Humanitarian Context in Gaza

The PCRF reports having evacuated 169 children from Gaza in 2024 as part of its treatment abroad program, facilitating their care in the Middle East, Europe, South Africa, and the US. Gaza’s medical infrastructure has been significantly damaged during the ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

The region also faces dramatic food shortages, with humanitarian groups alleging an Israeli blockade since March has hindered sufficient food delivery by non-governmental organizations. The Israeli government maintains its aid rules are designed to prevent food diversion by Hamas.

UN-backed food security organizations, humanitarian groups, and journalists reporting within Gaza have issued warnings of famine conditions. In July, the BBC, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and Reuters released a joint statement highlighting that journalists in Gaza were facing starvation, mirroring the dire circumstances of those they cover.

President Trump acknowledged “real starvation” in Gaza in July, though his administration has consistently supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The visa halt underscores the complex interplay of political pressure, humanitarian concerns, and the dire conditions in Gaza, as international organizations continue to advocate for medical aid and access.