IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 885 

Condemning Hamas’ use of human shields as a contravention of international 

humanitarian law and a heinous violation of the rights and dignity 

of civilian noncombatants. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 21, 2023 

Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself, Mr. MOSKOWITZ, Mr. GALLAGHER, and Mr. 

SHERMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning Hamas’ use of human shields as a contravention 

of international humanitarian law and a heinous violation 

of the rights and dignity of civilian noncombatants. 

Whereas, on October 7, 2023, the terrorist organizations 

Hamas, Palestine Islamic Jihad, and associated forces instigated an unprecedented ground, air, and sea assault 

against Israel, killing at least 1,200 Israelis, taking hostage at least 200 people, and injuring thousands of civilians; 

Whereas Hamas and other terrorists have long called for the 

eradication of the State and people of Israel and have 

sought to slaughter, brutalize, and abduct innocent 

Israeli civilians, including the elderly, those with disabilities, and infants and children alike; 


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•HRES 885 IH 

Whereas, since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, Hamas 

has continued to hold hostage innocent Israelis and indiscriminately launch rockets at Israeli civilians; 

Whereas Israel has called for Hamas to immediately release 

all hostages and to unconditionally surrender; 

Whereas, in the midst of Israel’s legitimate actions of selfdefense in response to this terrorist attack, Israel Defense Forces has taken extraordinary steps to reduce civilian casualties, including establishing humanitarian corridors, while adhering to the law of armed conflict; 

Whereas multiple authorities within the United States Government have, on a nonpartisan basis, observed that 

Hamas has routinely and unabashedly used innocent civilians to shield their weapons and terrorist militants 

from legitimate military engagement, resulting in avoidable civilian deaths that are entirely the fault of Hamas 

and other terrorist organizations; 

Whereas Hamas’ use of human shields is a both a violation 

of humanitarian law and an egregious war crime that results in the deaths of many civilians; 

Whereas reports indicate that Hamas is preventing civilians 

by force from utilizing humanitarian evacuation corridors 

from north Gaza to south Gaza established by the Israel 

Defense Forces; and 

Whereas the continued use of human shields, other perpetrations of crimes against humanity, and all terrorist operations carried out by Hamas pose an unjust, abominable, 

and indisputable threat to innocent civilian lives: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 885 IH 

1 (1) condemns Hamas’ use of human shields as 

2 a contravention of international humanitarian law 

3 and a heinous violation of the rights and dignity of 

4 civilian noncombatants; and 

5 (2) calls for the immediate cessation of Hamas’ 

6 use of human shields, the swift release of all hos7 tages taken by Hamas, the unconditional surrender 

8 of Hamas, and the immediate dismantlement of 

9 Hamas and all other terrorist organizations that 

10 participated in the massacre of Israelis on and since 

11 October 7, 2023, to ensure that innocent Israeli and 

12 Palestinian civilian lives are saved. 

Æ 


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