
The US State Department has suspended issuing medical visas to Palestinians from Gaza, while investigations have begun for anyone who trespasses on US territory.
In a statement, the State Department said it is conducting a full and detailed investigation into the processes that have been used in recent days to grant a small number of temporary medical and humanitarian visas.
This decision comes after some right-wing public figures in the US have claimed that Palestinians from Gaza who go to America work for Islamic organizations that have friendly ties with Hamas.
The decision has been condemned by several Palestinian human rights groups. The Palestinian Children's Aid Fund said in a statement that the move would have a devastating and irreversible impact on the ability to transport injured and critically ill children from Gaza to the United States for life-saving medical treatment.
The news comes as Israel attacked Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, killing seven Palestinians and wounding several others. Witnesses said the attack targeted a group of civilians gathered in the hospital's courtyard.
Medical centers and hospitals in Gaza have been virtually destroyed by nearly two years of war, and a lack of medical supplies has made it a struggle for doctors in the enclave to treat patients.
On the other hand, Israel continues its plan to expand operations in Gaza, to take full control of the city.
The decision has been opposed by families of hostages still being held by Hamas, who protested by blocking a highway in Israel, seeking a deal that would end the war. Many businesses in several cities in the country were also on strike on Sunday in protest of the Israeli government's decisions.