Washington: Over 60 members of the US Congress have called on Israel to allow Palestinian cancer patients to leave the Gaza Strip for medical treatment in hospitals located in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. This plea was directed at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and spearheaded by Representative James McGovern, along with Senators Ed Markey and Chris Van Hollen.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, the letter urged the US and its regional allies to encourage the Israeli government to reestablish medical pathways for cancer patients from Gaza to access life-saving treatments in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. It also emphasized the necessity for Palestinians to rebuild and secure hospitals and medical infrastructure within Gaza.
The letter highlighted that over 18,500 Palestinians are in urgent need of medical care that is not available in Gaza, with approximately 11,000 of these being cancer patients. The signatories pointed out that the decline of Gaza's healthcare system has deprived many patients of essential treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and other specialized care.
The lawmakers urged the US Administration to work with the governments of Qatar, Egypt, and Trkiye to facilitate medical evacuations for pediatric cancer patients and their caregivers to Augusta Victoria Hospital and other suitable medical institutions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. They also requested assurances from the Israeli government that all evacuated patients and caregivers would be allowed to return to Gaza once they are able.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 94 percent of hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, drastically reducing treatment options for patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions. The lawmakers stressed the importance of international efforts to prevent further loss of life among patients awaiting medical referrals and evacuation approvals.