Condemning President Biden's threat to withhold aid and military assistance to Israel.

Bill: 118-hres-1224
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
Introduced: 2024-05-10
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1224 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 10, 2024 Mr. Van Drew submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Condemning President Biden’s threat to withhold aid and military assistance to Israel.

Whereas Hamas terrorists broke a cease-fire and committed an unprovoked attack on October 7, 2023, killing 1,300 men, women, children, and elderly people, and taking hostage over 250 others; Whereas more than 30 Americans were amongst those killed, and of the 132 hostages that are still believed to be alive, approximately 5 are American; Whereas Hamas has promised to commit October 7th style attacks on Israel again and again until they annihilate the State of Israel; Whereas the original Hamas Covenant in 1988 made clear their desire for the complete destruction of Israel as an essential condition for the liberation of Palestine; Whereas calls for the destruction of Israel are inseparably linked to calls for the annihilation of the Jewish people; Whereas Israeli civilians and population centers have been the target of more than 15,000 rocket, mortar, drone, and other projectiles attacks; Whereas Israel has every right to defend itself against those perpetrating these attacks and the right to take any steps necessary to once and for all eradicate the threat to its sovereignty and people posed by Hamas; Whereas Hamas has developed an intricate and vast network of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip for smuggling and warfare and has strategically placed key portions of its tunnel system under heavily populated civilian districts, hospitals, and schools; Whereas Hamas uses civilians as human shields, intentionally causing incidental deaths and injuries to Gazan civilians, which helps to further perpetuate their motive to frame Israel as the unlawful aggressor; Whereas Hamas has stolen humanitarian aid meant for the civilian population as well as materials such as concrete and medical supplies meant for the construction of much needed civilian housing and hospitals for themselves, highlighting that these terrorists have little to no regard for the well-being of the people they supposedly represent; Whereas the United States and Israel are longstanding allies and partners in defense; Whereas, in order to aid Israel in its war to eradicate Hamas, Congress passed a supplemental appropriation of $26,380,000,000, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on April 23, 2024; Whereas an antisemitic surge on college campuses in recent weeks has raised political pressure on the President to place conditions on disbursement of aid to Israel; Whereas, on May 6, 2024, Israel ordered the evacuation of civilians from the city of Rafah prior to an Israeli offensive meant to eradicate the remaining Hamas brigades hiding within the city; Whereas, on May 7, 2024, Biden stated that the United States would not supply Israel with certain weapons and artillery shells if its military invades Rafah; Whereas the halting of this aid emboldens Hamas and will lengthen the timeline of this war; and Whereas this aid has been lawfully agreed upon by Congress and the President, and its withholding may be considered a violation of these legally binding agreements, potentially resulting in detrimental consequences for diplomatic relations and military strategy between the United States and Israel: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns President Biden’s threat to withhold aid and military assistance to Israel; and (2) urges the immediate resumption of full support and assistance, consistent with the passage into law of H.R. 8034.