IA 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. J. RES. 135 

Supporting Israel’s right to defend its borders, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 5, 2018 

Mr. ZELDIN (for himself and Mr. GOTTHEIMER) submitted the following joint 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Supporting Israel’s right to defend its borders, and for other 

purposes. 

Whereas Hamas is an organization designated as a foreign 

terrorist organization by the Department of State since 

1997; 

Whereas Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, bears 

responsibility for the humanitarian situation there; 

Whereas, on March 30, 2018, Hamas declared a 6-week campaign called the ‘‘March of Return’’ to reclaim Jerusalem 

and incite violence on the Gaza border against the State 

of Israel; 

Whereas demonstrators in Gaza were armed and threw hand 

grenades, stones, and firebombs at Israeli troops using 

violence under the guise of a protest; 


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•HJ 135 IH 

Whereas Hamas distributes payments to demonstrators and 

their families for deaths and wounded participants during 

the ‘‘March of Return’’ protests; 

Whereas Hamas has jeopardized the lives of innocent civilians 

living in Gaza and has targeted those in Israel; 

Whereas Hamas uses civilians as human shields; 

Whereas Hamas has been explicit in its desire to instigate violence as a media tool in the international court of public 

opinion; 

Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) publicly called for 

yet another investigation of Israel while making no mention of Hamas’ continued assault against Israel; 

Whereas, on December 21, 2017, the United Nations General 

Assembly adopted United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES–10/19, which rejects United States 

recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; 

Whereas the Government of Israel has taken important steps 

to show restraint in Gaza; 

Whereas the Government of Israel has accepted and implemented numerous ceasefire agreements that Hamas has 

rejected; 

Whereas Hamas refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist; 

Whereas Israel, like every other sovereign nation, has a responsibility to protect its citizens and defend its borders; 

Whereas, on May 29, 2018, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad launched the largest mortar attack against 

Israel since the 2014 Israel-Gaza war; and 

Whereas Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced these attacks in retaliation for Israel’s actions 


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•HJ 135 IH 

during the Marches of Return protests: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That Congress— 

4 (1) condemns the actions taken by Hamas in 

5 Gaza; 

6 (2) supports Israel’s right to defend itself 

7 against Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization; 

8 (3) urges the United Nations and United States 

9 allies to support Israel in its self-defense against 

10 Hamas and condemn all those who condemn Israel’s 

11 right to safeguard its citizens against violence; 

12 (4) condemns all who support the goals of 

13 Hamas by condemning Israel’s right to safeguard its 

14 citizens against violence; and 

15 (5) reaffirms the United States strong concern 

16 with the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza caused 

17 by Hamas. 

Æ 


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