The move comes after 80 Palestinian officials were denied visas ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In early August, the issuance of visitor visas for people from the Palestinian Gaza Strip seeking to travel to the United States was halted.

This new measure affects many, including Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The State Department did not explicitly confirm the move, but said it was "taking concrete steps consistent with U.S. law and our national security."

The New York Times and CNN reported that the move was announced to embassies and consulates on August 18.

It said that U.S. consular staff were instructed to deny visas to all non-immigrant Palestinian Authority passport holders.