Calling for the safe, timely, and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Bill: 118-hres-935
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
Introduced: 2023-12-14
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-12-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-12-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution urges the Biden Administration to help facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, demands Hamas release all remaining hostages, and condemns any diversion of humanitarian assistance by Hamas.</p> <p></p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 935 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 14, 2023 Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Kim of New Jersey , Mrs. Torres of California , Mr. Quigley , Mr. Mullin , Mr. Levin , Mr. Correa , Ms. Salinas , Ms. Tokuda , and Mr. Swalwell ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling for the safe, timely, and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists attacked and killed more than 1,200 Israeli civilians and took nearly 240 innocent people hostage, and started a conflict that displaced over 2,000,000 Israeli and Palestinian civilians; Whereas the fighting in response to Hamas’ October 7th attack and Hamas’ intentional use of civilian infrastructure and tactics to blend into the civilian population has led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip; Whereas Israel has the right to defend its citizens and degrade Hamas’ military capability in accordance with international law; Whereas Hamas must be removed from political and operational control of Gaza; Whereas a funding package in line with President Biden’s October 20, 2023, supplemental funding proposal is necessary to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza; Whereas the aid allowed into Gaza through the Rafah crossing since October 7, 2023, has been insufficient to address the humanitarian catastrophe in the region; Whereas Gaza’s water and sanitation systems have been severely affected by the war and there is a need to rebuild its infrastructure; Whereas there has been extensive damage to critical infrastructure, making it more difficult to deliver aid; Whereas the World Health Organization reports that airstrikes and a lack of medical supplies, food, water, and fuel have depleted an already under-resourced health system; Whereas the World Health Organization has recorded more than 94,858 cases of diarrhea and 129,230 acute respiratory infections, but actual case numbers may be significantly higher; Whereas the United Nations has reported that more than 96 percent of the water supply in Gaza is unfit for human consumption; Whereas the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that it would cost an estimated $1,200,000,000 to meet the needs of 2,700,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank until the end of 2023; Whereas the United States has helped lead the humanitarian response in Gaza and is the largest single-State funder of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people; Whereas, on November 24, 2023, the United States helped negotiate an extended humanitarian pause that ultimately led Hamas to release or facilitate the release of over 100 hostages, allowed increased levels of humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and provided relief from hostilities; Whereas there was an increase in aid reaching Gaza during the negotiated humanitarian pause from November 24, 2023, to November 30, 2023, with nearly 200 aid trucks crossing into Gaza per day; and Whereas the extended humanitarian pause ended on December 1, 2023: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) urges the Biden administration to help facilitate— (A) the scale up of safe and continuous flow of aid convoys to reach civilians with life-saving assistance in Gaza; (B) the opening of additional crossings for aid trucks to enter Gaza; (C) the distribution of fuel to humanitarian organizations working in Gaza; (D) the ability for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid in Gaza without impediment or interference; (E) proper oversight to ensure aid is appropriately delivered; (F) the expansion of the number of safe shelters for displaced people in schools and other public facilities across Gaza; (G) the improvement of a humanitarian notification mechanism; (H) the establishment of relief distribution hubs; and (I) the renewal of a humanitarian pause to facilitate a surge in humanitarian aid and the release of additional hostages; (2) demands Hamas to release all remaining hostages; (3) condemns any diversion of humanitarian assistance by Hamas; (4) recognizes the importance of President Biden’s October 20, 2023, supplemental funding request to Congress to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; (5) calls on the Secretary of State to work with all regional partners to increase support for funding the humanitarian response; (6) calls on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to check on the wellbeing of hostages in Gaza; and (7) encourages Israel to make every effort to minimize civilian deaths and destruction to infrastructure.