EU ministers urge U.S. to reconsider visa ban on Palestinian officials

European Union (EU) foreign ministers met in Copenhagen on Saturday and unanimously urged the United States to reconsider its recent decision to deny entry visas to Palestinian officials.

The U.S. Department of State said Friday in a statement that it is "denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly."

The meeting also discussed the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but participants were deeply divided over whether to impose further sanctions against Israel.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told a press conference that while member states broadly agree on the gravity of the situation, consensus has not been reached on concrete measures.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who chaired the meeting, said an increasing number of member states believe Israel is unlikely to change course without stronger pressure.

Outside the meeting venue, demonstrators gathered to urge Denmark and the EU to take stronger action over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

(With input from Xinhua)