Bera, Tran, and Carbajal Lead 65 Members Urging Secretary Rubio to Address Dual-Use Restrictions Impeding Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Derek Tran (CA-45), and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) led a group of 65 Members of Congress in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address overly broad and inconsistently enforced Israeli restrictions on dual-use goods entering the Gaza Strip.

"Israel faces real security challenges from Hamas and other actors, and we support disarming Hamas and replacing it with an alternative governing entity," the Members wrote. "However, overly broad and inconsistently enforced restrictions on essential humanitarian goods do not increase Israel's security."

The letter raises concerns that restrictions are delaying or preventing the entry of supplies needed for medical care, shelter, sanitation, and public health, including ultrasound machines, prosthetic limbs, ventilators, pesticides, pipes, tent poles, and prefabricated structures. The Members also cited a lack of transparency and inconsistent enforcement, including reports that commercial traders have been able to import goods that humanitarian organizations cannot bring into Gaza.

"Legitimate security concerns must not be abused to prevent adequate aid to a civilian population in desperate need," the Members continued.

The Members urged Secretary Rubio to press the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories to publish a comprehensive list of restricted dual-use items and facilitate the entry of supplies needed for shelter, hygiene, sanitation, and medical care. They also asked the State Department to clarify whether it has access to the full list of restricted items and, if so, provide the list and the justification for each designation to Congress. The Members further requested that the Department identify items that can be removed, address disparities between commercial and humanitarian shipments, and explain how dual-use designations are made, reviewed, and challenged.

Read the full letter to Secretary Rubio here.