More Than 60 US Lawmakers Press Israel on Gaza Cancer Evacuations

More than 60 members of the U.S. Congress urged Israel in a letter on Thursday to allow Palestinian cancer patients in Gaza to travel for treatment in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The letter was addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and called on the Trump administration to help facilitate medical evacuations for child cancer patients and their caregivers. Lawmakers said Gaza’s damaged health system has left patients with few treatment options inside the enclave.

They also sought Israeli assurances that evacuated patients would be allowed to return to Gaza.

Fifty-one members of the House of Representatives and 11 senators signed the letter, the report said. The lawmakers argued that current evacuation approvals have not met the scale of medical need. They asked for steps that would allow patients to access specialized care, including radiation treatment, outside Gaza.

The letter cited United Nations and World Health Organization estimates to describe the extent of the crisis. It said about 11,000 cancer patients are living in Gaza, and that 94 percent of the territory’s hospitals have been damaged or destroyed since October 2023. It also referenced the destruction in March 2025 of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, described as Gaza’s only specialized cancer facility.

Calls for a medical corridor and return guarantees

In addition to evacuations, the lawmakers urged the creation of a “medical corridor” that would allow patients to travel out of Gaza more reliably. They also asked for guarantees from Israel that patients who leave for treatment will be permitted to return and that Gaza’s medical facilities can be rebuilt without further destruction.

The letter said hospitals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are prepared to receive Gaza patients. It cited facilities including Augusta Victoria Hospital, and said some institutions have offered to cover treatment costs.

Deaths reported while awaiting evacuation approvals

The United Nations has reported that at least 1,200 people have died in Gaza while waiting for evacuation approvals, according to the report. The lawmakers said the numbers underscore the need for faster access to care, especially for children with cancer.

Officials have not announced any policy change in response to the letter. The next focus will be whether U.S. officials pursue the requested evacuation arrangements and whether Israel alters approval procedures for patients seeking treatment outside Gaza.