DaysofPal- A group of 62 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate has called on the administration of President Donald Trump to press Israel to lift restrictions on Palestinian patients seeking medical treatment and to reopen the medical corridor that previously allowed Gaza residents to receive care in hospitals in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers warned that thousands of patients in the Gaza Strip are facing life-threatening conditions amid the collapse of the territory’s healthcare system following the ongoing war.
The signatories said that more than 18,500 Palestinians currently require urgent and specialized medical treatment unavailable inside Gaza. Among them are approximately 11,000 cancer patients whose access to care has been severely affected by the destruction of the health sector.
According to the letter, 94 percent of Gaza’s hospitals have either been destroyed or sustained significant damage, leading to the breakdown of most diagnostic and treatment services, including oncology care.
Calls to Reopen Medical Corridor
The lawmakers noted that while Israel has permitted a limited number of medical evacuations to third countries, it continues to prevent patients from accessing hospitals in Jerusalem and the West Bank, despite their proximity and ability to provide specialized treatment.
They argued that the current situation has effectively turned a cancer diagnosis in Gaza into what amounts to a “death sentence” for thousands of patients unable to obtain the care they need.
The letter also highlighted reports that more than 1,200 patients have died while waiting for approval to leave Gaza for medical treatment.
In response, the lawmakers urged the U.S. administration to work with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to facilitate medical evacuations and ensure that patients receive timely treatment.
Protecting Healthcare and Rebuilding Infrastructure
The members of Congress further called for the permanent reopening of the medical corridor and for guarantees that patients and their companions would be allowed to return to Gaza after completing treatment.
They also urged support for efforts to rebuild damaged hospitals and healthcare infrastructure across the territory.
In addition, the lawmakers stressed the importance of protecting medical facilities and healthcare workers in accordance with international humanitarian law, warning of the severe humanitarian consequences of continued restrictions on access to treatment.
The letter was signed by several high-profile members of Congress, including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Ed Markey.
Among the House members who signed were Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, and Sean Casten.
The appeal reflects growing concern among U.S. lawmakers over the humanitarian and medical crisis in Gaza, particularly the challenges facing patients who require urgent treatment unavailable within the territory.
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