[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1359 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1359

Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldier 
      Gilad Shalit held captive by Hamas, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 13, 2010

  Mr. Ackerman (for himself and Mr. Burton of Indiana) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldier 
      Gilad Shalit held captive by Hamas, and for other purposes.

Whereas Congress previously expressed its concern for missing Israeli soldiers 
        in Public Law 106-89 (113 Stat. 1305; November 8, 1999), which required 
        the Secretary of State to raise the status of missing Israeli soldiers 
        with appropriate government officials of Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian 
        Authority, and other governments in the region, and to submit to 
        Congress reports on those efforts and any subsequent discovery of 
        relevant information;
Whereas the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 107 on March 13, 2007, 
        regarding Gilad Shalit and other Israeli soldiers illegally attacked and 
        captured by terrorists;
Whereas Israel completed its withdrawal from Gaza on September 12, 2005;
Whereas, on June 25, 2006, contrary to international humanitarian law and the 
        most basic standards of human conduct, Hamas together with allied 
        terrorists crossed into Israel to attack a military post, killing two 
        soldiers and wounding and kidnapping Gilad Shalit in a blatantly illegal 
        and extortionate effort to coerce the Government of Israel;
Whereas Hamas, contrary to international humanitarian law and the most basic 
        standards of human conduct, has prevented access to Gilad Shalit by 
        competent medical personnel and representatives of the International 
        Committee of the Red Cross;
Whereas Hamas, contrary to international humanitarian law and the most basic 
        standards of human conduct, has failed to provide Gilad Shalit the 
        humane treatment all captives are entitled to as a fundamental human 
        right;
Whereas Hamas, contrary to international humanitarian law and the most basic 
        standards of human conduct, has refused to provide Gilad Shalit with 
        regular contact with his family or any other party, or to allow his 
        family to know where he is being held;
Whereas Hamas, contrary to international humanitarian law and the most basic 
        standards of human conduct, has compelled Gilad Shalit to appear in 
        video and voice recordings intended to illegally and extortionately 
        coerce the Government of Israel; and
Whereas Gilad Shalit has been held in captivity by Hamas for almost four years: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) demands that--
                    (A) Hamas immediately and unconditionally release 
                Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit; and
                    (B) Hamas accede to the requirements of 
                international humanitarian law and the most basic 
                standards of human conduct by--
                            (i) allowing prompt access to the Israeli 
                        captives by competent medical personnel and 
                        representatives of the International Committee 
                        of the Red Cross;
                            (ii) providing Gilad Shalit the humane 
                        treatment all captives are entitled to as a 
                        fundamental human right;
                            (iii) facilitating regular communication by 
                        Gilad Shalit with his family and allow his 
                        family to know where he is being held; and
                            (iv) ceasing to compel Gilad Shalit to 
                        appear in video and voice recordings intended 
                        to illegally and extortionately coerce the 
                        Government of Israel;
            (2) expresses--
                    (A) its vigorous support and unwavering commitment 
                to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of 
                Israel as a Jewish and democratic state within 
                recognized and secure borders;
                    (B) its strong support and deep interest in 
                achieving a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian 
                conflict through the creation of a democratic, viable, 
                and independent Palestinian state living in peace 
                alongside of the State of Israel;
                    (C) its ongoing concern and sympathy for the family 
                of Gilad Shalit; and
                    (D) its full commitment to continue to seek the 
                immediate and unconditional release of Gilad Shalit and 
                other missing Israeli soldiers;
            (3) recalls--
                    (A) the illegal and barbaric attack on and 
                kidnapping of the bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad 
                Regev on July 12, 2006, by the Iran-supported terrorist 
                group Hezbollah; and
                    (B) the missing Israeli soldiers Zecharya Baumel, 
                Zvi Feldman, and Yehuda Katz, missing since June 11, 
                1982, Ron Arad, who was captured on October 16, 1986, 
                Guy Hever, last seen on August 17, 1997, and Majdy 
                Halabi, last seen on May 24, 2005; and
            (4) condemns--
                    (A) Hamas for the grossly illegal and immoral cross 
                border attack and kidnapping of Gilad Shalit; and
                    (B) Iran and Syria, the primary state sponsors and 
                patrons of Hamas, for their ongoing support for 
                international terrorism.
                                 <all>