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.

Bill: 118-hres-885
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Introduced: 2023-11-21
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-11-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">This resolution condemns Hamas' use of human shields as a contravention of international humanitarian law and a violation of the rights and dignity of civilian noncombatants. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">The resolution also calls for Hamas to immediately cease using human shields, for the swift release of all hostages taken by Hamas, and for Hamas' unconditional surrender. </p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 885 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 instigated an unprecedented ground, air, and sea assault against Israel, killing at least 1,200 Israelis, taking hostage at least 200 people, and injuring thousands of civilians; 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 disabilities, and infants and children alike; Whereas, since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, Hamas has continued to hold hostage innocent Israelis and indiscriminately 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 Defense Forces has taken extraordinary steps to reduce civilian casualties, including establishing humanitarian corridors, while adhering to the law of armed conflict; Whereas multiple authorities within the United States Government have, on a nonpartisan basis, observed that Hamas has routinely and unabashedly used innocent civilians to shield their weapons and terrorist militants from legitimate military engagement, resulting in avoidable 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 results 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 perpetrations of crimes against humanity, and all terrorist operations carried out by Hamas pose an unjust, abominable, and indisputable threat to innocent civilian lives: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (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 hostages 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.