The United States has imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority (PA) officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) following a determination by the State Department that they have violated numerous international agreements, particularly those aimed at promoting peace. The sanctions, according to a press release by the U.S. State Department, are a direct response to the rejection of a United Nations initiative that sought to transfer control of the Gaza Strip to the PA. The PA, along with the PLO, has been accused of actively undermining previous commitments made under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA). These laws mandate that both the PLO and PA recognize Israel’s right to exist, accept UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and renounce terrorism. The sanctions impose visa restrictions on these officials and PLO members, effectively limiting their presence in the U.S.
The decision to sanction comes shortly after a controversial United Nations conference was hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, where multiple countries voted to support the PA’s takeover of Gaza. This initiative, known as the ‘New York Declaration,’ was widely criticized by both Israel and the U.S. for what they perceived as a unilateral push towards an unsecured Palestinian state. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the U.S. for taking this stance and highlighted the moral and strategic implications of the move. Sa’ar condemned the PA for its ‘Pay-for-Slay’ policy, a term used to describe a system where families of Palestinian terrorists receive financial benefits, and for its incitement against Israel.
Additionally, the U.S. has also targeted U.N. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, imposing sanctions over her alleged ‘biased and malicious activities.’ The sanctions against Albanese were announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused her of antisemitism and support for terrorism. The move was part of a broader strategy to combat what the administration views as global efforts to undermine the U.S.’s and Israel’s national security interests. These decisions underscore the administration’s position on the Middle East conflict and its approach to dealing with perceived enemies of peace and security.