US Halts Gaza Visitor Visas Amid Security Concerns

After conservative activist Laura Loomer's social media videos spotlighted Gazan children arriving in the US for medical care, the State Department halted visitor visas from Gaza pending a review. Concerns arose about links of certain organizations to terrorist groups, necessitating a reassessment of the visa vetting process.

The US State Department has announced a suspension of visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, pending a review, following videos posted by conservative activist Laura Loomer. Loomer's posts, showing children from Gaza arriving in the US for medical treatment, have raised questions about how these visas were granted.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted that only a 'small number' of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued, but congressional concerns about possible links between involved organizations and terrorist groups prompted the pause for reevaluation. Loomer criticized the approvals as a 'national security threat' and demanded accountability.

HEAL Palestine, a humanitarian organization involved in facilitating medical care for children, expressed distress at the visa suspension, clarifying their role in providing essential medical aid to severely injured children who return home post-treatment. The WHO has urged more international support for Gaza's strained health system amid ongoing conflicts.

(With inputs from agencies.)