US-based charity HEAL Palestine and other rights groups criticized the State Department’s move to suspend visitor visas for Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters.
On Saturday, the US State Department announced that it has halted the issuance of all visitor visas for Gazans, pending a “comprehensive review” of procedures for granting temporary medical visas to Gaza residents.
“All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,” the department wrote in a statement posted to X.
HEAL Palestine said that the decision would harm wounded children seeking medical treatment on short-term U.S. visas.
Loomer’s Claims
On Friday, Loomer posted several claims alleging that Gazans were being flown to the US with the help of HEAL Palestine, a humanitarian group that evacuates and provides medical care for Injured Gazans —especially children —wounded by Israel’s ongoing aggression on Gaza.
Through a vast array of posts, Loomer criticized the program, demanding that “the Trump administration needs to shut this abomination down ASAP before a family member of one of these GAZANS goes rogue and kills Americans for HAMAS.”
In a response, HEAL Palestine noted that it does not operate a refugee resettlement program, as claimed by Loomer, but rather a medical treatment initiative funded entirely through donations without any financial support the U.S. government.
The charity sponsored and brought “severely injured children to the U.S. on temporary visas for essential medical treatment not available at home,” it said in a statement.
“After their treatment is complete, the children and any accompanying family members return to the Middle East.”
Moreover, the Council on American Islamic Relations and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund denounced the decision to stop the visas.
Loomer’s claims have gained significant support from several pro-Israel Republicans.
“Deeply concerned about the incoming flights – including to Texas – allegedly filled with folks from Gaza as reported by @LauraLoomer. Inquiring,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) wrote on Friday.
Following the State Department’s announcement, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) credited activist Laura Loomer for influencing the decision, writing on X that “massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware.”
Gaza War
Currently, Israel is facing regional and international pressure to put an end to its war in the Palestinian enclave and allow the delivery of more aid.
At the same time, the Israeli government has been facing harsh criticism from countries, nations, and individuals who considered the war as a genocide or ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 62,004 Palestinians and wounded over 156,230, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Dozens of Gazans including children have lost their souls due to malnutrition throughout the war that caused unthinkable humanitarian conditions.
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