Lawmakers press State Department on Gaza aid, UNRWA alternatives and U.S. role on hostages

Members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee raised concerns about humanitarian access to Gaza, the role of UNRWA in aid delivery, and efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The hearing featured pleas from lawmakers to "do everything in your power to bring home" hostages and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians and not Hamas. Representative Grace Meng specifically asked the secretary to "do everything in your power to bring home the 58 hostages who Hamas still holds in captivity" and requested continued efforts to ensure aid "is getting to Palestinian civilians and not Hamas."

Secretary Rubio said U.S. diplomacy had prompted Israel to allow some additional aid shipments but acknowledged the numbers were far below what was necessary. He said U.S. officials were engaged with partners and international organizations to expand delivery, and he described on-the-ground coordination with humanitarian actors, noting a recent meeting with World Food Programme leadership.

UNRWA and alternatives: Several members asked whether the administration would continue to provide funding to UNRWA; Secretary Rubio said the administration opposes working with UNRWA in its current form and is seeking alternative distribution mechanisms to prevent diversion of assistance to Hamas. Rubio said the administration would pursue proposals that ensure aid does not benefit extremist groups and described work with partners to design alternatives.

Hostages and diplomatic pressure: Lawmakers repeated requests for transparency on agreements and repatriations tied to transfers of detained persons to El Salvador and other countries. Representative Torres pressed for a commitment to provide Congress requested agreements; Secretary Rubio characterized transfers as repatriations of foreign nationals and said the United States had provided law-enforcement funding to El Salvador that the Salvadoran government may use at its discretion.

Operational concerns: Witnesses and members also raised the status of U.S.-funded food shipments and the risk of logistical impediments. Representative Laura said warehouses of U.S.-purchased food were at risk of expiring and urged the administration to ensure that food aid was not left to rot; Rubio said distribution was impeded in some cases by other national authorities and the department was addressing those obstacles.

Ending: The committee did not adopt formal policy changes but asked the administration to produce specific plans and alternatives to UNRWA and to provide additional detail on humanitarian flows and hostage-negotiation efforts.