US sanctions Palestinian Authority officials, Witkoff in Israel

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM: The United States said Thursday it would deny visas to Palestinian Authority officials, accusing the body which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank of seeking to “internationalise” the situation, as the Department of State announced the latest US sanctions.

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Citing national security interests, the State Department also accused the Palestinian Authority of “continuing to support terrorism”.

Also on Thursday, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel to discuss ways to end the crisis in Gaza, where nearly 22 months of grinding war and dire shortages of food have drawn mounting international criticism.

VISAS DENIED

As a result of sanctioning the Palestinian Authority officials, the US denied visas to these officials who hasn’t been named in a statement issued by the Department of State.

“The United States is imposing sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials in accordance with section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA,” the statement read as it explained the reasoning behind the US sanctions. 

“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.”

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Meanwhile, the Department of State said the organisation is “taking actions to internationalise its conflict with Israel such as through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ).”

At the same time, the Palestinian Authority has been blamed for terrorism despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Hence, the statement says it is “continuing to support terrorism including incitement and glorification of violence (especially in textbooks), and providing payments and benefits in support of terrorism to Palestinian terrorists and their families”.

WITKOFF MEETS NETANYAHU

With talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal at an impasse, Witkoff met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss humanitarian aid and the “next steps” on Gaza.

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He may also visit a US-backed humanitarian group distributing food in Gaza, according to Israeli reports.

Footage released by Netanyahu’s office showed the Israeli leader smiling warmly and greeting a cheery Witkoff in his office.

Witkoff has been the top US representative in the indirect Israel-Hamas talks, but discussions broke down last week when Israel and the United States recalled their delegations from Doha.

On the other hand, Germany’s top diplomat Johann Wadephul was also expected in Jerusalem on Thursday for talks with Netanyahu and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

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“Israel is finding itself increasingly in the minority,” Wadephul warned before setting off, noting that Germany’s European allies increasingly favour recognising Palestinian statehood.

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that the worsening suffering of civilians in Gaza left “no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace”.