Title: Supporting Israel's right to defend its borders, and for other purposes.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This joint resolution condemns the actions taken by Hamas in Gaza, supports Israel's right to defend itself, and urges the United Nations and U.S. allies to support Israel in its self-defense against Hamas.
The joint resolution reaffirms U.S. concern with the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza caused by Hamas.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 135 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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 during the Marches of Return protests: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
            (1) condemns the actions taken by Hamas in Gaza;
            (2) supports Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, 
        a foreign terrorist organization;
            (3) urges the United Nations and United States allies to 
        support Israel in its self-defense against Hamas and condemn 
        all those who condemn Israel's right to safeguard its citizens 
        against violence;
            (4) condemns all who support the goals of Hamas by 
        condemning Israel's right to safeguard its citizens against 
        violence; and
            (5) reaffirms the United States strong concern with the 
        dire humanitarian situation in Gaza caused by Hamas.
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