US State Department halts Gaza visas after injured Palestinian children arrive at SFO

The U. S. State Department suspended visas for individuals from Gaza after three injured Palestinian children arrived in San Francisco for medical treatment, raising national security concerns among right-wing activists. HEAL Palestine, a nonprofit that facilitates medical evacuations for children, expressed dismay at the decision, stating it would negatively affect those needing urgent care during wartime. Activist Laura Loomer and some Republican congresspeople claimed that the children’s arrival suggested a potential influx of dangerous individuals into the U.

S. Loomer’s allegations prompted the State Department to conduct a thorough review of the visa process. The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Secretary of State Marco Rubio for allegedly yielding to Loomer's influence, arguing it undermined humanitarian efforts. The State Department emphasized the responsibility of other nations, like France and Canada, to assist in medical care. HEAL Palestine has previously connected 63 injured children with medical facilities across the U.

S. without government funding. The suspension of these visas raises significant concerns over the future of humanitarian aid for those affected by conflict.