On 22 December, Israel Hayom reported that the US embassy in Jerusalem is considering denying visa entry to Israelis suspected of partaking in violent acts against Palestinians in the occupied territories.

This incentive reportedly seeks to limit Tel Aviv’s hostile activities against Palestinians and reduce Israelis’ willingness to engage in acts of aggression toward Palestinian nationals.

Nonetheless, regulations such as these have rarely been implemented against Israelis.

“Visa applications are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis by all applicable law… We have been clear about our deep concerns over the increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence,” a State Department spokesperson disclosed to Middle East Eye.

Israeli forces this year markedly increased their raids in the occupied West Bank, killing 166 Palestinians, including 33 children, making 2022 one of the deadliest years for Palestine since 2005.

Earlier this month, Tel Aviv barred the entry of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) representative Francesca Albanese for her outspoken support of Palestine’s right to exist.

Israel typically targets human rights groups and UN officials for reporting their abuses in Palestinian territories. This year Tel Aviv also shut down several EU and US-funded NGOs that supported refugees.

More notably, on 14 November, reports revealed that Israeli watchdog NGOs at the UN targeted the livelihood of dozens of employees from the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for “the crime of supporting the Palestinian cause.”