US imposes sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials

The United States has announced new sanctions targeting officials from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA), citing their failure to uphold obligations under US law and actions deemed "harmful to the Middle East peace process."

In a statement released Thursday, the US Department of State said it had formally reported to Congress that both the PLO and PA are not in compliance with their commitments under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002. As a result, visa restrictions are being imposed on PLO and PA members, as outlined in Section 604(a)(1) of the latter act.

The State Department accused the Palestinian leadership of engaging in actions that contradict key elements of the peace framework, particularly United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, which call for "negotiated solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

The report cites the PA’s efforts to involve international legal bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), in disputes with 'Israel', as well as its support for what the US described as “incitement and glorification of violence,” particularly in school curricula.

Additionally, Washington criticized the ongoing financial support provided by the PA to Palestinians convicted of carrying out attacks, including stipends paid to prisoners and their families. US officials have repeatedly described this policy, often referred to by critics as “pay-for-slay,” as an incentive for terrorism.

“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,” the statement said.

The move signals a further deterioration in US-Palestinian relations, which have been strained amid rising regional tensions and international criticism of US support for 'Israel'.

There was no immediate response from Palestinian officials to the visa restrictions. It remains unclear how many individuals will be affected or how long the measures will remain in place.