April 04, 2024

Warren, Merkley, Senators Call on Biden Administration to Supply Desperately Needed Medical Supplies to Gaza

Gazan Hospitals Lack Supplies Needed to Be “Fully Operational” and Can’t Provide Critical Trauma Care to Innocent Civilians

“The combination of Israeli restrictions on access to humanitarian aid and the harm caused by relentless bombing and shelling has devastated Gaza’s healthcare capacities at a time when the need for urgent care is soaring. It is critical that the United States leverage its unique capabilities to urgently and dramatically ramp up medical support to the people of Gaza”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C.  – United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) sent a letter to President Joe Biden, asking his administration to drastically increase its supply of desperately needed medicine and medical equipment to hospitals in Gaza. In February, the senators called on the administration to immediately implement Operation Gaza Relief to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, and raised the most urgent concern as providing medicine and medical equipment. 

“The most urgent concern we raised was the need to ‘supply desperately needed medicine and medical equipment,’” wrote the senators. “The crisis on the ground has only worsened after Israeli raids on hospitals, and continued fighting has created fuel shortages that put hospitals out of commission. Doctors now worry that their only options are ‘displacement, detention or death.’” 

Americans who have fled Gaza and medical personnel who have recently returned from Gaza have shared a dire perspective on the medical supplies and care available, “even by the standards of war-ravaged regions.” Medical staff are treating patients on the floor instead of beds and working ceaselessly for as long as two weeks, all while bombs and gunfire can be heard nearby and as “mass casualties” come in waves “at least three or four times a night.” Healthcare Workers Watch reported that since October 7, over 400 medical staff have been killed in Gaza.

The senators noted that the last remaining functioning hospitals do not have the medicines and supplies needed to be considered “fully operational,” and no hospitals have the capacity to provide critical trauma care. Sixteen of the 22 health centers operated by the United Nations are no longer in operation.  Lifesaving products such as “insulin and blood are in extreme shortage,” and with a lack of testing supplies infections go undiagnosed “allowing pathogens to spread more easily.”  

Given these serious concerns and the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza due to Israel’s bombing campaign, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and hospital raids, the senators are specifically asking the Biden administration to: 

  1. Urgently mobilize airlifts of medicine and medical equipment directly to the few remaining functional hospitals. 
  2. Seek absolute assurances that the Israeli government will protect medical infrastructure and personnel. 
  3. Urgently consider sending the U.S. Navy’s two hospital ships, the USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort, which would add 2,000 beds to the effort.  
  4. Work with allies and partners to establish additional field hospitals to increase bed capacity and care. 

“A sea change is desperately needed,” concluded the senators. “The combination of Israeli restrictions on access to humanitarian aid and the harm caused by relentless bombing and shelling has devastated Gaza’s healthcare capacities at a time when the need for urgent care is soaring. It is critical that the United States leverage its unique capabilities to urgently and dramatically ramp up medical support to the people of Gaza.” 

The senators are asking the Biden administration to respond to a set of questions about its capabilities to deliver medicine and medical supplies to Gaza and its plans to address the ongoing medical care crisis in Gaza by April 17, 2024.

Senator Warren has led action to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, condition military aid to Israel, and bring back Americans trapped in Gaza: 

  • On March 22, 2024, Senator Warren, Senator Van Hollen, and 15 other senators issued a statement calling on the Biden administration to find that Netanyahu’s assurances on humanitarian aid are not credible.  
  • On February 29, 2024 Senator Warren delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling out Prime Minister Netanyahu’s failed leadership in Israel’s war against Hamas and called for the conditioning of U.S. aid,  a return of all hostages, the resumption of a cease-fire, and a lasting peace through a two-state solution. 
  • On February 13, 2024, Senator Warren issued a statement emphasizing the need for Congress to enforce Israel’s conditions for receiving aid, including following international law, protecting civilians in war zones, and allowing for humanitarian aid to be delivered. 
  • On February 2, 2024 Senator Warren joined Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Van Hollen, Chris Coons (D-Del.), Merkley, and 20 other colleagues in urging the Biden administration to work with Israel to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
  •  On December 6, 2023, Senator Warren delivered a floor speech calling out the humanitarian crisis sparked by Israel’s military strategy in Gaza and calling for a resumption of the ceasefire agreement, acceleration of humanitarian aid, protection of innocent civilians, and a release of all hostages. 
  • On November 20, 2023, Senator Warren joined her colleagues in calling for humanitarian aid to be delivered to the region to protect innocent lives in Gaza. 
  • On November 8 Senator Warren joined Senators Van Hollen, Murphy, Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Reed (D-R.I.) , and the majority of Senate Democrats in asking the Biden administration for more information on protecting civilians in Gaza.
  • On November 3, 2023, Senator Warren joined Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to urge Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urging them to take additional steps to provide safe passage for Americans trying to leave Gaza, including a family from Plymouth, Massachusetts. 
  • On October 19, 2023 Senator Warren, Senator Murphy, and 32 of their colleagues called for the Biden administration to lead the international community in contributing to the United Nations’ emergency appeal to address humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza.
  • On October 18, 2023, Senator Warren joined colleagues in urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to do everything possible to provide assistance to U.S. citizens fleeing the Gaza Strip, including residents from New England. 

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