Photo: Front cover of Van Hollen, Merkley Report Following 2025 CODEL to Gaza Border, Israel, West Bank, Jordan, and Egypt
Summary by Said Arikat
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (Maryland) and Jeff Merkley (Oregon) conducted a fact-finding delegation (CODEL) from August 24 to September 1, 2025, visiting Israel, the occupied West Bank, Gaza border, Jordan, and Egypt.
Their goal was to assess humanitarian conditions in Gaza, evaluate Israel’s statements vs. observed actions, and to examine U.S. involvement.
Key Findings:
Intent / Statements by Israeli Officials:
Government leaders (including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Finance Minister Smotrich, National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, and others) have made public statements advocating for the destruction, removal, or expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.
Such statements are not fringe or isolated; they are part of the policy conversation in government.
Destruction of Infrastructure & Housing:
Extremely high destruction rates: approx. 92% of housing units damaged or destroyed; similar rates for other civilian infrastructure (schools, hospitals, water/sanitation).
Example: Rafah, once home to ~270,000 Palestinians, “reduced to rubble.”
Blockade / Obstruction of Aid:
There was a 78-day total blockade of all food and humanitarian assistance into Gaza, from March 2 to May 19.
After that, continued obstructions: strict and shifting customs/screening rules, limited crossing points, bureaucratic delays, restrictions on which items and how aid can be delivered.
Humanitarian Impact:
Food insecurity, famine declaration in parts of Gaza, with projections that famine would expand to other areas by end-of-September 2025.
Wide scale displacement: evacuation orders, restrictions on living conditions in large portions of the territory.
U.S. Role / Complicity:
The report argues the U.S., through its military/financial support, is complicit in what is happening.
U.S. policies (e.g. arms sales, diplomatic posture) are seen as enabling Israel’s strategy.
Conclusion:
The report concludes that Israel’s actions go beyond responding to Hamas; they amount to “collective punishment” and have a goal of making life in Gaza unsustainable for Palestinians.
Any characterization of displacement as “voluntary” is rejected: the report says when people are driven out by destruction, deprivation, lack of essentials, that cannot be voluntary.
It calls for international action: penalties, accountability, urgent steps to secure humanitarian access, and an immediate ceasefire.
