US-based charity HEAL Palestine and other rights groups have criticised the State Department’s decision to stop visitor visas for Palestinians from Gaza, saying it will harm wounded children seeking medical treatment on short-term US visas, Reuters reports.

The State Department announced it was halting all visitor visas for Gazans while it conducted “a full and thorough” review, after far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer said Palestinian refugees were entering the US.

HEAL Palestine said there was no refugee resettlement program, as stated by Loomer and that the group’s efforts were part of a medical treatment program. It also said the program was run on donations and did not use US government money.

The charity sponsored and brought “severely injured children to the US on temporary visas for essential medical treatment not available at home,” it said in a statement.

“After their treatment is complete, the children and any accompanying family members return to the Middle East.”