A Dangerous Development: Washington Extends Sanctions on the PLO and Palestinian Authority; Palestinian Foreign Ministry Condemns Move
In a serious development reflecting a new escalation in the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration toward the Palestinian leadership, the U.S. State Department announced—in a statement issued on September 16, 2026—the extension of visa restrictions on officials from the Palestinian Authority and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Washington justified the decision by citing the failure of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority to meet their obligations. It accused them of taking steps to internationalize the conflict through global institutions and seeking unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, alongside other issues related to what Washington describes as the funding and glorification of terrorism.
In response, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the U.S. decision, deeming it an unjustified measure that runs counter to efforts aimed at restoring trust, developing Palestinian-U.S. relations, and creating the political climate necessary to implement the two-state solution and achieve peace and stability in the region.
The Ministry affirmed that the PLO and the Palestinian Authority remain committed to peace, international legitimacy resolutions, the two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders, and living in security and peace alongside Israel.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also rejected the characterization of recourse to the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court as undermining peace, asserting that resorting to international law and institutions represents—from its perspective—a peaceful and legal means of protecting Palestinian rights. The US escalation comes at a time of mounting pressure on the Palestinian leadership, while Washington has affirmed that the extension of sanctions is part of imposing “consequences” on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority for what it deems a failure to honor their obligations.
التاريخ 17-9-2026
