Story perspectives

US Lawmakers Urge Aid for 11,000 Gaza Cancer Patients

6/13/2026

Summary

US Lawmakers Urge Aid

Rep. James P. McGovern, Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote to Secretary Marco Rubio urging aid for Gaza cancer patients.
The letter, signed by 57 colleagues, 60 members, said 18,500 need care, including 11,000 cancer patients.
It noted 94 percent of Gaza hospitals damaged.
They asked to press Israel to reopen East Jerusalem–West Bank corridor and work with Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye evacuate patients to Augusta Victoria Hospital with guarantees.

Summary

Plaintiffs Oppose Dismissal

Plaintiffs filed opposition today to the U.S. government's motion to dismiss Gaza v. Rubio lawsuit.
The 2024 lawsuit claims the State Department’s “Israel exception” lets Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) block medical evacuations, citing a Palestinian cancer patient denied chemotherapy.
A ruling on jurisdictional discovery is expected this year after the court denied a dismissal motion in November 2025 and the complaint was amended in February 2026.

History

Historical Context

The 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty, signed by King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin with President Bill Clinton observing, opened a medical corridor that moved about 1,200 Palestinian patients abroad in its first year, according to UNRWA. Lawmakers now cite that model while urging the State Department to revive the corridor for Gaza’s roughly 11,000 cancer patients.

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US Lawmakers Urge Aid

Rep. James P. McGovern, Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote to Secretary Marco Rubio urging aid for Gaza cancer patients.
The letter, signed by 57 colleagues, 60 members, said 18,500 need care, including 11,000 cancer patients.
It noted 94 percent of Gaza hospitals damaged.
They asked to press Israel to reopen East Jerusalem–West Bank corridor and work with Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye evacuate patients to Augusta Victoria Hospital with guarantees.

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