On Thursday 15 August, Israel initially barred US Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering the country for a diplomatic visit, citing their alleged support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Rashida Tlaib, however, was granted a “humanitarian” visa to visit her family in the occupied West Bank after she made an appeal to Israel’s Interior Ministry to visit her ageing grandmother.
Following this decision, Tlaib rejected this back-track, stating she will no longer visit due to the "oppressive conditions" stipulated by the Israeli government. Ilhan Omar remains banned from entering Israel.
Under a controversial Israeli law, supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement can be denied entry to Israel.
Both Congresswomen held a press conference to address Israel‘s restrictive travel policy, which specifically targets those who publically support Palestine.