US Lawmakers Call for Investigation into Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid by Foreign Governments

 

US Lawmakers Call for Investigation into Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid by Foreign Governments

A group of U.S. senators has formally requested the Congressional watchdog, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), to investigate whether restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries by Israel and other foreign nations violate U.S. laws. The senators, including Chris Van Hollen, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Peter Welch, sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro seeking an inquiry into the U.S. government’s implementation of laws related to humanitarian assistance.

The senators expressed concern that in conflict zones such as Ethiopia, Sudan, Ukraine, Burma, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Gaza, vital aid—including food, medical supplies, water purification systems, and other lifesaving goods—has been blocked or restricted by state and non-state actors. They referenced Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Leahy Laws, which are designed to prevent U.S. aid from supporting foreign security forces involved in gross human rights violations and to restrict assistance to countries impeding humanitarian deliveries.

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Recent focus has centered on Gaza, where the United Nations and Palestinian representatives at the International Court of Justice have accused Israel of violating international law by denying aid access since March 2, when Israel began cutting off supplies to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Israel defends the blockade, claiming Hamas diverts aid supplies for military use, an assertion Hamas denies. Critics argue that the United States often disregards its own laws in providing military and other assistance abroad, especially amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Activists have raised alarms over the situation, especially since President Donald Trump, a strong supporter of Israel, began his second term on January 20, with concerns heightened over restrictions on aid amid rising violence. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, following Hamas’ attack in October 2023 that killed over 1,200 people and took hostages, has resulted in the deaths of more than 52,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.