A resolution condemning the use of sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war by the terrorist group Hamas against the people of Israel.

Bill: 118-sres-505
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2023-12-14
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Conflicts and wars

Crime victims

Crimes against women

Israel

Sex offenses

Terrorism

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-07
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 379.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-12-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution condemns the use of gender-based violence against women and children in Israel during the terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The resolution also (1) calls on the international community to prioritize the elimination of gender-based violence in conflict settings, and (2) demands accountability for the perpetrators of rape as a weapon of war.</p>

tv_txt: III Calendar No. 379 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 505 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 14, 2023 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mrs. Britt , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Fetterman , Ms. Collins , Mr. Casey , Mr. Warnock , Mr. Ossoff , Mr. King , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Van Hollen , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Kaine , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Warner , Ms. Rosen , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Peters , Mr. Thune , Mr. Hickenlooper , and Mr. Coons ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations May 7, 2024 Reported by Mr. Cardin , without amendment RESOLUTION Condemning the use of sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war by the terrorist group Hamas against the people of Israel.

Whereas, on October 7, 2023, the terrorist organization Hamas— (1) attacked communities, military installations, and a music festival in southern Israel; (2) killed approximately 1,200 people; and (3) seized more than 200 hostages; Whereas evidence that emerged in the first days after such attacks indicates that Hamas fighters deliberately used sexual violence against women and children; Whereas Israeli police have gathered evidence from more than 1,500 women and men in Israel— (1) who reported being sexually assaulted during such attacks; (2) who were witness to such sexual assaults; or (3) whose sexual assaults have been medically documented; Whereas while gender-based violence is prevalent in many conflict settings— (1) such violence is almost always severely underreported during and after a conflict; and (2) the United Nations estimates that, in conflict areas, for every rape that is reported, between 10 and 20 cases of sexual violence are not reported; Whereas the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women And Children, which seeks to document the sexual and gender-based atrocities committed on October 7, 2023, reported that it is unable to accurately estimate the number of such victims in part because many of them were killed during the Hamas attacks; Whereas the victims of the deliberate use of sexual violence as a weapon to wage war against Israel are men and women of all ages, including children, teenagers, and the elderly; Whereas eyewitness testimony reports that women at the Tribe of Nova music festival were gang-raped, tortured, mutilated, and executed; Whereas Israeli officials have documented extensive sexual abuse of corpses; Whereas reports from released hostages held by Hamas for more than a month indicate that women and men were subjected to sexual violence while in captivity; Whereas the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, done at Geneva August 12, 1949 (commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention ), recognizes rape in conflict settings as a war crime; and Whereas sexual violence is used in many conflict settings as a tool to humiliate, control, oppress, and defeat women and the communities to which they belong: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) honors the memories of all the victims of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas, including those who were victims of sexual violence, and stands with the survivors, their families, and the families of all the deceased; (2) condemns in the strongest terms the deliberate use of gender-based violence against women and children in Israel during the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023; (3) calls upon the international community— (A) to prioritize the elimination of gender-based violence in conflict settings; (B) to respond to the testimonials of victims and recognize and condemn gender-based violence in conflict settings as soon as it is reported; and (C) to take every possible step to end the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war; (4) demands accountability for the perpetrators of rape as a weapon of war and justice for their victims; and (5) stands with the women and girls of Israel, the victims of the heinous attacks of October 7, and all who have suffered rape as a weapon of war.

May 7, 2024 Reported without amendment

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 505 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 14, 2023 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mrs. Britt , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Fetterman , Ms. Collins , Mr. Casey , Mr. Warnock , Mr. Ossoff , Mr. King , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Van Hollen , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Kaine , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Warner , Ms. Rosen , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Bennet , and Mr. Peters ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Condemning the use of sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war by the terrorist group Hamas against the people of Israel.

Whereas, on October 7, 2023, the terrorist organization Hamas— (1) attacked communities, military installations, and a music festival in southern Israel; (2) killed approximately 1,200 people; and (3) seized more than 200 hostages; Whereas evidence that emerged in the first days after such attacks indicates that Hamas fighters deliberately used sexual violence against women and children; Whereas Israeli police have gathered evidence from more than 1,500 women and men in Israel— (1) who reported being sexually assaulted during such attacks; (2) who were witness to such sexual assaults; or (3) whose sexual assaults have been medically documented; Whereas while gender-based violence is prevalent in many conflict settings— (1) such violence is almost always severely underreported during and after a conflict; and (2) the United Nations estimates that, in conflict areas, for every rape that is reported, between 10 and 20 cases of sexual violence are not reported; Whereas the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women And Children, which seeks to document the sexual and gender-based atrocities committed on October 7, 2023, reported that it is unable to accurately estimate the number of such victims in part because many of them were killed during the Hamas attacks; Whereas the victims of the deliberate use of sexual violence as a weapon to wage war against Israel are men and women of all ages, including children, teenagers, and the elderly; Whereas eyewitness testimony reports that women at the Tribe of Nova music festival were gang-raped, tortured, mutilated, and executed; Whereas Israeli officials have documented extensive sexual abuse of corpses; Whereas reports from released hostages held by Hamas for more than a month indicate that women and men were subjected to sexual violence while in captivity; Whereas the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, done at Geneva August 12, 1949 (commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention ), recognizes rape in conflict settings as a war crime; and Whereas sexual violence is used in many conflict settings as a tool to humiliate, control, oppress, and defeat women and the communities to which they belong: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) honors the memories of all the victims of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas, including those who were victims of sexual violence, and stands with the survivors, their families, and the families of all the deceased; (2) condemns in the strongest terms the deliberate use of gender-based violence against women and children in Israel during the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023; (3) calls upon the international community— (A) to prioritize the elimination of gender-based violence in conflict settings; (B) to respond to the testimonials of victims and recognize and condemn gender-based violence in conflict settings as soon as it is reported; and (C) to take every possible step to end the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war; (4) demands accountability for the perpetrators of rape as a weapon of war and justice for their victims; and (5) stands with the women and girls of Israel, the victims of the heinous attacks of October 7, and all who have suffered rape as a weapon of war.