The United States is imposing sanctions that prohibit representatives of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from entering the country, in accordance with Section 604(a)(1) of the Middle East Peace Commitments Act (MEPCA), the State Department announced.

According to the statement, the restrictions are intended to demonstrate consequences for failing to uphold existing commitments and for obstructing the peace process.

"This step is in the national security interest of the United States," the department said, adding that it aims to hold the Palestinian Authority and PLO accountable for actions that undermine prospects for peace.

The sanctions include visa denials and entry bans. Grounds for the sanctions include failure to comply with peace agreement obligations, filing legal complaints against Israel in international courts such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), paying stipends to imprisoned terrorists and their families, and promoting violence or extremist ideology through propaganda, including in educational materials.