This legislative ask is designed to be shared with your members of Congress and their staff.

After more than three years of war and conflict, Gaza faces a profound medical emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 94% of hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, leaving the health system in collapse. WHO further estimates that more than 18,500 patients, including nearly 4,000 children, require immediate medical evacuation for lifesaving treatment. With exit routes extremely limited, critically ill patients have nowhere to go. Reestablishing the Gaza–East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN) medical corridor is a critical component of ending the suffering of civilians in Gaza and fostering a sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians. 

Why the East Jerusalem Hospital Network?

Established in 1997, the EJHN is made up of six major hospitals in East Jerusalem and is a cornerstone of the Palestinian health system. The EJHN has the unique capacity to receive and treat evacuees. They provide critical specialty care, including dialysis, cancer treatment, obstetrics and maternal care, and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities. Before October 2023, thousands of patients from Gaza regularly accessed life-saving care at these hospitals.

Reestablish funding for East Jerusalem Hospital Network.

There has been historical bipartisan U.S. recognition of the essential role of EJHN—providing over $200 million in support via USAID funding over the past 15 years. In 2026, the Trump administration released $15 million in State Department-administered assistance for the EJHN – the only remaining program in a portfolio that previously supported 37 West Bank and Gaza assistance programs. While these funds are welcomed, increased and sustained support is necessary.  

We urge Congress to: 

  • Fund the East Jerusalem Hospital Network: Include at least $120 million for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network in the FY27 House and Senate Appropriations bills.
  • Protect and expand support for the EJHN: Keep existing House-passed report language in the Appropriations bills supporting EJHN, and add support for resuming medical evacuations from Gaza to the EJHN.
  • Remove restrictions blocking medical and humanitarian supplies: Publicly call on the Israeli government to lift its restrictions on dual-use items to allow medical and shelter equipment into Gaza, and ensure a surge in humanitarian aid flows into Gaza.
  • Restore U.S. medical visas for patients in Gaza: Appeal to the State Department – via phone calls, letters, and hearing questions – to re-open access to medical visas for critically ill and injured patients in Gaza seeking treatment in the United States.

Contact: Hassan El-Tayyab, Legislative Director for Middle East Policy, hassan@fcnl.org