Hyderabad, Nov. 14 -- The United States has denied visas to two Palestinian Christian priests who planned to address American audiences on Israeli attacks in Gaza and settler violence in the occupied West Bank, Middle East Eye reported.

Father Issa Thaljieh, a priest at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, was scheduled to speak at a gathering of Christian leaders near the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Monday, November 16. The event aims to urge Congress to hold Israeli forces and settlers accountable for attacks on Palestinians and demand an end to US arms transfers to Israel.

Organisers said Thaljieh's visa application was rejected on security grounds. Laila Mokhiber, a volunteer with Orthodox Christians for Palestine (OCP), critici...