A statement Thursday says the move is in the ‘national security interests’ of the United States.
The State Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority (PA) officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This comes as U.S. officials arrived in Israel to hold further cease-fire talks.
“It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.
The department further said that the PA and PLO aren’t “in compliance with their commitments under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989,” as well as the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002, because they have taken “actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel, such as through the International Criminal Court [ICC],” and other means.
The statement also accused both organizations of “continuing to support terrorism, including incitement and glorification of violence (especially in textbooks),” and “providing payments and benefits in support of terrorism to Palestinian terrorists and their families.”
The sanctions come as special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday in a bid to save the Gaza cease-fire talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. Israel faces growing world pressure over the war in Gaza, and several Western powers have said they will recognize a Palestinian state.
In the statement, the State Department did not say what individuals associated with the PLO or PA would face sanctions.
Earlier in July, the State Department announced it had placed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the area, over efforts to have the ICC act against the United States and Israel, along with officials, executives, and companies.
“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on July 9 in a post on X.
Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt @IntlCrimCourt action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 9, 2025
Albanese’s campaign of political and economic…
