[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1224 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1224

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


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                    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
    Resolved, 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.
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