The United States has suspended visitor visas for Palestinians from Gaza following criticism from far-right commentator Laura Loomer, who has close ties to President Donald Trump.
The State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, announced on Saturday: “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 decision came a day after Loomer posted a series of messages on X, demanding that visas for Gazans be revoked. She alleged, without evidence, that Palestinians arriving for medical care were “pro-HAMAS” and “funded by Qatar.”
Her criticism targeted HEAL Palestine, a US-based charity that said it recently helped 11 severely injured children, along with their caregivers and siblings, reach the US for treatment. The group described it as “the largest single medical evacuation of injured children from Gaza to the US.”
“Truly unacceptable,” Loomer wrote. “Someone needs to be fired at @StateDept when @marcorubio figures out who approved the visas.”
Republican lawmakers, including Congressman Randy Fine, praised Loomer. “Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer… Well done, Laura,” he wrote.