The United States has halted the issuance of visas for Palestinians from Gaza, including children seeking medical treatment in the country.
In an interview with CBS on Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the decision, saying, “We’re going to pause those visas” pending further review. While acknowledging that most visas were for children requiring urgent medical care, Rubio noted that accompanying adults would also be granted entry to travel with them.
Rubio claimed that members of Congress had provided evidence suggesting some organizations involved in the medical evacuation program were linked to Hamas, though he did not provide details or cite specific sources.
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza nearly two years ago, Palestinian children have routinely been evacuated to the U.S., Europe, or neighboring countries for treatment. However, most return to Gaza after completing their medical care, and the number of permanent departures has remained relatively small.
The visa freeze follows a social media campaign launched Friday by MAGA influencer and Jewish Zionist Laura Loomer. Loomer circulated videos from the U.S.-based nonprofit HEAL Palestine, which coordinates medical evacuations for injured children. She labeled the arrivals as “national security threats,” portraying accompanying adults as tied to Hamas and describing them as “Islamic invaders.”
Shortly after Loomer’s posts, Republican Congressmen Chip Roy and Randy Fine amplified her claims and voiced support for halting the program. Loomer later asserted that “multiple U.S. Reps and Senators” had reached out to her to express outrage and said they would press the State Department on the issue.
On Saturday, the State Department announced a suspension of all B-1/B-2 visitor visas for Gazans, citing the need for a “full and thorough review” of the process.
The episode underscores how support for Israel remains deeply entrenched within the Republican Party and highlights the growing influence of social media campaigns on U.S. foreign policy decisions.