Human rights groups and medical charities have condemned the decision which comes at a time when Gaza is facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions

The US State Department announced it was halting all visitor visas for people from Gaza. The pause was issued to conduct a "full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,

The move blocked a pathway for those seeking medical care in the United States, including young children, who have arrived in recent weeks with serious conditions.