Fri Apr 18 06:56:09 UTC 2025: ## US to Scrutinize Social Media of Gaza Visitors Seeking US Visas; Harvard Faces Funding Freeze Amidst Political Row

**Washington D.C.** – The US State Department will review the social media accounts of all visa applicants who have visited the Gaza Strip since 2007, according to an internal cable obtained by Reuters. This directive, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, applies to all visa types, including student and tourist visas, and extends to those who have spent any time in Gaza in an official or diplomatic capacity, as well as NGO employees and volunteers. The review aims to identify potential national security threats based on social media activity. Any “derogatory information” uncovered will trigger an interagency investigation.

This move follows Secretary Rubio’s recent announcement of over 300 visa revocations this year, including some student visas, reportedly due to criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Trump administration has framed such criticism as a threat to US foreign policy.

This escalation of scrutiny coincides with a major confrontation between the Trump administration and Harvard University. President Trump has frozen over $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard, demanding policy changes including the repeal of affirmative action, screening for students deemed “hostile to American values,” and addressing alleged anti-Semitism on campus. The Department of Homeland Security has even suggested Harvard’s potential ineligibility to host international students due to accusations of harboring “radical ideology” and supporting protesters. These actions have sparked widespread protests on Harvard’s campus and across the nation. The legality and implications of these actions are expected to be heavily debated.

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