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 in-
stigated an unprecedented ground, air, and sea assault 
against Israel, killing at least 1,200 Israelis, taking hos-
tage at least 200 people, and injuring thousands of civil-
ians; 
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 disabil-
ities, 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 indis-
criminately 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 De-
fense Forces has taken extraordinary steps to reduce ci-
vilian casualties, including establishing humanitarian cor-
ridors, while adhering to the law of armed conflict; 
Whereas multiple authorities within the United States Gov-
ernment have, on a nonpartisan basis, observed that 
Hamas has routinely and unabashedly used innocent ci-
vilians to shield their weapons and terrorist militants 
from legitimate military engagement, resulting in avoid-
able 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 re-
sults 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 perpetra-
tions of crimes against humanity, and all terrorist oper-
ations 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— 
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•HRES 885 IH 
(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 hos-
tages 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. 
Æ 
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