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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 885 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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;
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 self-defense 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns Hamas' use of human shields as a contravention 
        of international humanitarian law and a heinous violation of 
        the rights and dignity of civilian noncombatants; and
            (2) calls for the immediate cessation of Hamas' use of 
        human shields, the swift release of all hostages taken by 
        Hamas, the unconditional surrender of Hamas, and the immediate 
        dismantlement of Hamas and all other terrorist organizations 
        that participated in the massacre of Israelis on and since 
        October 7, 2023, to ensure that innocent Israeli and 
        Palestinian civilian lives are saved.
                                 <all>
```