U.S. imposes sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials for 'undermining peace'

The State Department explained its decision to impose sanctions, saying the Palestinian groups were 'taking actions to internationalize [their] conflict with Israel, such as through the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice'

The United States imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, saying the groups are undermining peace efforts, the State Department said in a statement on Thursday.

The move prevents those targeted from receiving visas to travel to the United States, the U.S. State Department said, although it did not list any specific individuals.

"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," the department said in a statement.

The State Department said the two Palestinian groups were "taking actions to internationalize [their] conflict with Israel, such as through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ)."