[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 30, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7074-H7078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DENOUNCING USE OF CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS BY HAMAS AND OTHER
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 107) denouncing the use of
civilians as human shields by Hamas and other terrorist organizations
in violation of international humanitarian law, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 107
Whereas the term ``human shields'' refers to the use of
civilians, prisoners of war, or other noncombatants whose
mere presence is designed to protect combatants and objects
from attack;
Whereas the use of human shields violates international
humanitarian law (also referred to as the Law of War or Law
of Armed Conflict);
Whereas Additional Protocol I, Article 50(1) to the Geneva
Convention defines ``civilian'' as, ``[a]ny person who does
not belong to one of the categories of persons referred to in
Article 4(A) (1), (2), (3), and (6) of the Third Convention
and in Article 43 of this Protocol. In the case of doubt
whether a person is a civilian, that person shall be
considered a civilian.'';
Whereas Additional Protocol I, Article 51(7) to the Geneva
Convention states, ``[T]he presence or movement of the
civilian population or individual civilians shall not be used
to render certain points or areas immune from military
operations, in particular in attempts to shield military
objectives from attacks or to shield, favour or impede
military operations. The Parties to the conflict shall not
direct the movement of the civilian population or individual
civilians in order to attempt to shield military objectives
from attacks or to shield military operations.'';
Whereas since June 15, 2014, there have been over 2,000
rockets fired by Hamas and other terrorist organizations from
Gaza into Israel;
Whereas Hamas has been using civilian populations as human
shields by placing their missile batteries in densely
populated areas and near schools, hospitals, and mosques;
Whereas Israel drops leaflets, makes announcements, places
phone calls and sends text messages to the Palestinian people
in Gaza warning them in advance that an attack is imminent,
and goes to extraordinary lengths to target only terrorist
actors;
Whereas Hamas has urged the residents of Gaza to ignore the
Israeli warnings and to remain in their houses and has
encouraged Palestinians to gather on the roofs of their homes
to act as human shields;
Whereas on July 23, 2014, the 46-Member UN Human Rights
Council passed a resolution to form a commission of inquiry
over Israel's operations in Gaza without a single mention of
the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas or the use of
human shields, with the United States being the lone
dissenting vote;
Whereas public reports have cited the role of Iran and
Syria in providing material support and training to Hamas and
other terrorist groups carrying out rocket and mortar attacks
from Gaza;
Whereas throughout the summer of 2006 conflict between the
State of Israel and the terrorist organization Hezbollah,
Hezbollah forces utilized human shields in violation of
international humanitarian law;
Whereas Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) and other foreign terrorist organizations
typically use innocent civilians as human shields;
Whereas the United States and Israel have cooperated on
missile defense projects, including Iron Dome, David's Sling,
and the Arrow Anti-Missile System, projects designed to
thwart a diverse range of threats, including short-range
missiles and rockets fired by non-state actors, such as
Hamas;
Whereas the United States has provided $235,000,000 in
fiscal year 2014 for Iron Dome research, development, and
production;
Whereas, during the most recent rocket attacks from Gaza,
Iron Dome has successfully
[[Page H7075]]
intercepted dozens of rockets that were launched against
Israeli population centers; and
Whereas 5 million Israelis are currently living under the
threat of rocket attacks from Gaza: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) strongly condemns the use of innocent civilians as
human shields;
(2) calls on the international community to recognize and
condemn Hamas' breaches of international law through the use
of human shields;
(3) places responsibility for the rocket attacks against
Israel on Hamas and other terrorist organizations, such as
Islamic Jihad;
(4) supports the sovereign right of the Government of
Israel to defend its territory and its citizens from Hamas'
rocket attacks, kidnapping attempts and the use of tunnels
and other means to carry out attacks against Israel;
(5) expresses condolences to the families of the innocent
victims on both sides of the conflict;
(6) supports Palestinian civilians who reject Hamas and all
forms of terrorism and violence, desiring to live in peace
with their Israeli neighbors;
(7) condemns Hamas' repeated refusals to accept a cease-
fire with Israel;
(8) supports efforts to permanently demilitarize the Gaza
Strip, removing Hamas's means to target Israel, including its
use of tunnels, rockets, and other means; and
(9) condemns the United Nations Human Rights Council's
biased commission of inquiry into Israel's Gaza operations.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to the chairman and
ranking member of the Middle East Subcommittee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen of
Florida, and Mr. Deutch of Florida for their good work on this
legislation. I am pleased to have worked with Mr. Engel and the
leadership to ensure that this legislation was scheduled for the floor
today for consideration.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation places responsibility for the
escalation and violence squarely where it belongs: with the Iranian-
backed terrorist group Hamas. Hamas is deliberately targeting Israeli
civilians through the use not only of rockets but longer and longer
range missiles--2,500 of these so far--aimed at cities--Tel Aviv and
Jerusalem, attempting to attack Israeli communities. Remember, these
attacks are at civilian populations, they are not at military
installations. And Hamas is perpetuating the kidnapping and murder,
which started with three Israeli teenagers.
Again and again, we have seen these incursions through these
tunnels--32 new tunnels found so far--3 miles into Israeli territory.
One of the amazing things, when you go into the tunnels, you see not
only how they are used for these attacks, but what they have in reserve
in these tunnels: ropes, syringes, tranquilizers, handcuffs,
explosives, walls and walls of explosives. These were attempts to
inflict mass casualty attacks on the civilian population.
$100 million is approximately what was spent on these tunnels, at the
expense, I might add, of the Palestinian people. That is 4,000 trucks
of equipment coming in over the border from Israel with cement--which
was presumed to be used, hopefully, for schools or hospitals--with
cement, with aggregate, with steel, instead used for the construction
of these tunnels tunneling under Israel.
Less than 10 years ago, Israel pulled out of Gaza. The Strip was
going to flourish without Israel's control. That was what we were told.
But it wasn't supposed to be this way. It wasn't supposed to be a
situation where Hamas would take resources and plow it into terror day
by day.
Today, the Gaza Strip is a terrorist sanctuary on Israel's borders
with sanctuaries within this sanctuary. We now know 32 of these are
tunnels.
Beyond targeting Israeli civilians with kidnapping and indiscriminate
firing of rockets, Hamas shows a callous disregard for the lives of the
Palestinians it ostensibly represents. That is the purpose of this
initiative here today, to call attention to that fact.
Earlier this month, the Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri appeared on
Al-Aqsa television and encouraged Gaza residents to act as human
shields. That is the responsibility they ask as they are hidden down in
these tunnels. As they are in these bunkers, they ask their civilian
population to go and make of themselves human shields in front of
rocket launchers.
The world can't let terrorists embed their forces among the civilian
population, using them as human shields, without speaking out. This is
a direct violation of international humanitarian law and the law of
war, sacrificing the innocent in an effort to protect those engaged in
terror from an Israeli response.
Hamas is engaging in a crime of enormous proportions, perpetrated by
those who are deliberately hiding among civilians to protect
themselves. According to the Geneva Convention, the presence of the
civilian population, or individual civilians, shall not be used to
render certain points or areas immune from military operations, in
particular, in attempts to shield military objectives from attack, or
to shield, favor, or impede military operations. That is the Geneva
Convention.
A full court press to discredit Israel is on in the United Nations.
My question is: Where are the defenders of international law in
condemning Hamas' use of human shields? I saw the report. There is no
mention in there of the rockets being fired against Israel.
Yes, this is a case where Israel is using missile defense to protect
its civilians, and Hamas is using their civilians to protect their
missiles. It is a case where we have to recognize Israel's right to
defend its people by taking necessary and appropriate force to
neutralize the threat posed by Hamas.
Think about the recent discovery that Israeli security sources
unearthed, evidence that Hamas was preparing to dispatch 200 terrorists
via ten tunnels toward six Israeli communities with a goal of killing
and kidnapping scores and scores of Israelis on the Jewish New Year. If
that was on our border with Canada, how would we react?
I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, which takes a
strong stand against Hamas' crimes, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 107, condemning Hamas' use
of human shields in Gaza.
Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks, on our TV screens and computer
monitors, in the pages of newspapers and magazines, we have seen the
bloody and brutal results of war. We have heard the reports of so many
lives lost. No matter where you come from or what you believe, if you
don't grieve over every innocent killed, you simply don't have a heart.
What is missing from many of these stories, though, is why these
blameless men, women, and children ended up in harm's way. When Israel
acts to defend itself, it does everything it can do to warn civilians
and minimize loss of life. Israel warns Palestinians ahead of time,
going so far as to say specifically where an airstrike is going to
occur.
What does Hamas do, on the other hand? It forces Palestinians to stay
in their homes, to stay in the line of fire. All the while, Hamas
leaders cower in their underground tunnels. Then they have the cynicism
to point their cameras at the dead, show the world the outcome of their
human shield strategy, and blame Israel. It is despicable and it is
shameful.
This resolution sends a clear message. The Palestinian people of Gaza
should not have to take this anymore from Hamas.
It also makes clear that we support taking away Hamas' ability to
wage terror campaigns.
As Secretary Kerry said on Tuesday:
Any process to resolve the crisis in Gaza in a lasting and
meaningful way must lead to the disarmament of Hamas and all
terrorist groups.
Now is the time for the United States to stand firm in our support of
Israel. Hamas has Qatar and Turkey, shamefully, to support them, and
the rest of
[[Page H7076]]
the world has turned a deaf ear to Israel's pleas for security.
The U.N. Human Rights Council, which, frankly, is a joke, even voted
to investigate Israel for war crimes, with the United States casting
the courageous lone dissenting vote. We know the Human Rights Council
typically has a muddled view of Israeli-Palestinian issues. But given
the constant barrage of Hamas rockets, launched from civilian
population centers, day in and day out, week in and week out, year in
and year out, and falling on Israeli civilian population centers, the
Council seems especially out of touch.
We ought to mention something that is very important. This war
started because Hamas keeps attacking the Israeli civilian population
through the years with its missiles--civilians. So for Hamas to now
fret over civilian casualties, which is the fault of them in both Gaza
and Israel, really just rings hollow.
{time} 1445
If Hamas were so concerned about human casualties, why does it target
Israeli civilian populations, as it has all these years?
As Israel's security is threatened and its reputation is smeared--
frankly, the media hasn't been helpful or evenhanded--this moral
equivalency between a terrorist group and a democratic country trying
to protect its citizens is sometimes sickening.
The United States is the only one true friend that Israel has. We
must always stand up for Israel's security, and we must state plainly
that Israel is not alone.
I want to thank Representative Ros-Lehtinen and Representative Deutch
for their leadership on this issue. They have done very strong work in
bringing to light Hamas' deplorable crimes against the Israeli and
Palestinian people. I also want to thank Representative Steve Israel
and Representative Tom Cole for sponsoring a similar resolution, which
the House passed just a few weeks ago.
I also want to thank Chairman Royce, who has worked diligently and
hard to bring consensus to our committee, so we can speak with one
voice to let the Israeli people know that when it comes to the support
of Israel, support is strong and bipartisan from this Congress, and
that is the way it should be.
So only when the world rejects Hamas and its tactics and when Hamas
can no longer rain terrorist rockets on Israel and send the Palestinian
to their deaths will peace between Israelis and Palestinians be
possible.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), chair of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee
on the Middle East and North Africa and author of this measure.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank my good friend, the chairman of our
committee, Ed Royce of California, as well as the ranking member, Eliot
Engel, for their continued efforts in support of human rights and
Israel's right to defend herself.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution condemning Hamas' use of human shields
in violation of international humanitarian law is an extremely
important and timely measure, given the current situation in Israel and
Gaza.
I want to first thank my colleague from South Florida, Ted Deutch,
for joining me in introducing this legislation. It was at an official
factfinding mission trip that we took to the Middle East earlier this
month where Ted and I realized how important this measure was needed.
While we were there, Hamas had already begun to increase the
frequency of indiscriminate rocket attacks against Israel. Prime
Minister Netanyahu was compelled to respond, but made it clear from the
very beginning that the objective was to restore peace and security to
the people of Israel and that quiet would be met with quiet, but Hamas
would not relent and only increased its attacks.
While Hamas was firing rockets at innocent Israeli civilians, Israel
was taking every step imaginable to avoid Palestinian civilian
casualties. Hamas' response was to intentionally place the Palestinians
in harm's way.
It stores its rockets and weapons underneath the homes of
Palestinians and even in at least three schools run by the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency, and it uses Palestinian men, women,
and children as human shields, in violation of international
humanitarian law, by placing its missile batteries in densely-populated
areas and near schools, hospitals, and mosques.
Mr. Speaker, the contrast between Israel--a legitimate sovereign
state--and Hamas--a terrorist organization--could not be any clearer.
Israel values and goes to great lengths to protect human life, while
Hamas has no respect for human life and goes to great lengths to
sacrifice anyone, including the Palestinian people, in the name of its
war against Israel.
Israel has accepted repeated cease-fire offers. Hamas has rejected
them all. While Israel seeks to fight terrorism, Hamas is an
internationally recognized terror organization that is being supported
by countries like Qatar in its war against our true democratic ally,
Israel, yet it is Israel that wrongfully faces international
condemnation for exercising her right to protect her citizens and
defend herself and gets singled out when the world should be condemning
Hamas.
Last week, Mr. Speaker, the U.N. Human Rights Council, an institution
that has been leading the anti-Israel charge for years now and has
since lost any legitimacy that it might have had, passed a resolution
to investigate what it calls war crimes and human rights violations by
Israel, not Hamas.
There was not even a word about Hamas' attacks against innocent
Israeli civilians, nor Hamas' use of Palestinians as human shields. Of
the 47 members on the Human Rights Council, you would think that there
would be many voices of reason--or some voices of reason--to speak out
against this obvious anti-Israel bias, but the United States was the
lone voice of dissent against this anti-Israel resolution.
Our so-called European allies lacked the courage of their
convictions, and they couldn't even muster the resolve to vote for or
against the resolution. Instead, they abstained. This is a disgrace,
and it is a shame.
If the United Nations Human Rights Council will not act and use its
voice, that is why it is so important for the U.S. House of
Representatives to pass this resolution and not only stand up for the
Palestinian people who have been made pawns in Hamas' mission to
destroy Israel, to their detriment, but for Israel in the face of this
biased anti-Israel agenda.
We must be the counterbalance, Mr. Speaker. We must send a message to
the world that we will continue to stand alongside Israel and that we
will condemn Hamas and its use of human shields. I urge my colleagues
to support this resolution to stand up for our ally, Israel, and to
stand up for human rights and American ideals and principles.
I thank the chairman, Mr. Royce, and the ranking member, Mr. Engel,
as well as my South Florida colleague, Mr. Deutch, for their help.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Deutch), my good friend and colleague, the ranking member
of the Middle East Subcommittee and coauthor of this resolution.
Mr. DEUTCH. I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel and
especially Chairman Ros-Lehtinen for her partnership in this effort to
call the world's attention to Hamas' use of innocent civilians as human
shields. I also thank Casey Kustin of my staff, Eddy Acevedo of
Chairman Ros-Lehtinen's staff, and the committee staff as well, for
bringing this important resolution to the floor.
Chairman Ros-Lehtinen and I were in Israel the night that the world
learned the tragic fate of the three Israeli teens: Eyal, Gilad, and
Naftali. We mourned with the families and tens of thousands of others
at their joint funeral, and we were there just days later when 16-year-
old Mohammed Abu Khdeir was brutally and tragically murdered.
In the wake of these heartbreaking deaths, violence escalated when
Hamas began indiscriminately launching rockets at Israel, with the sole
purpose of causing terror and death. Israel responded.
Every civilian death is tragic. We continue to mourn the loss of
innocent lives on both sides of this conflict, but we cannot forget how
this started, and we cannot forget who is responsible.
[[Page H7077]]
It is Hamas that has chosen to launch 2,600 rockets at civilians. It
is Hamas that hides rockets and rocket launchers in UNRA schools, in
mosques, and even in hospitals, using the Palestinian people as cover
for their weapon stockpiles and their rocket launchers.
It is Hamas that chose to spend millions of dollars digging tunnels
into Israel to launch terrorist attacks and fortifying underground
bunkers for its terror commanders, instead of investing, so that the
people of Gaza have a chance at a prosperous future.
It is Hamas that is responsible for the miserable condition of the
Palestinians in Gaza, even before this military engagement started.
As former President Clinton said last week:
Hamas was perfectly well aware of what would happen if they
started raining rockets in Israel. They fired a thousand of
them, and they have a strategy designed to force Israel to
kill their own civilians, so that the rest of the world will
condemn them.
Mr. Speaker, while Israel warns the residents of Gaza of incoming
attacks via text messages, phone calls, and leaflets, Hamas' spokesmen
go on television to urge people to stay in their homes to act as human
shields. This is a direct violation of the Geneva Convention. Let me be
clear: the use of civilians as shields to protect military objectives
is a violation of international law.
It is time for responsible nations to condemn this abhorrent behavior
and condemn the use of innocent civilians as human shields.
Passing House Concurrent Resolution 107 won't stop Hamas from putting
the lives of its citizens at risk as human shields, but it will make
clear that the U.S. House condemns the terrorists who wants to destroy
and murder Israelis--the terrorists who violate international law by
using human shields.
I ask my colleagues to please support this resolution.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
It has been said many times, but I think we should say it again:
Israel uses its missiles to protect its citizens, and Hamas uses its
citizens to protect its missiles. That says it all. That is just a
disgrace, and it is a fact.
The United States must back Israel in its quest for security. Any
cease-fire that is put forth must contain the total disarming of Hamas
and the total destruction of those death tunnels that Hamas has been
building to try to kill Israeli civilians. That concrete was allowed to
be trucked in, under the eyes of Israel, because they were told that
the concrete would be used to build schools and infrastructure.
Instead, the concrete was used to build tunnels to kill Israelis. This
really cannot be tolerated at all.
I would also say again that the media reporting of what is really
going on in Gaza has been less than stellar. There are atrocities in
Syria, but that seems to be yesterday's story. So while every death in
Gaza and in Israel is something over which we grieve, there are more
deaths in Syria every single day in that bloody civil war than there
have been in Gaza, yet you hear no mention of it on the news. All you
do is have cameras focused on Gaza.
War is hell. Nobody wants war, but a terrorist organization like
Hamas must be told that terrorism cannot prevail.
Israel's fight is not with the Palestinian people. It is with Hamas,
a terrorist organization that denies Israel's very right to exist and
that wants to kill as many Israelis and Jews around the world and
destroy the State of Israel. That is why the United States and the
European Union have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
We need to put that in perspective. A terrorist organization that
uses its own people as human shields is not to ever be taken seriously,
nor has it the right to lecture anybody about the sanctity of human
life.
In closing, let me say again that Israel has the right to self-
defense. Hamas' use of human shields demonstrates just how much they
devalue human life. The Palestinian people deserve better than Hamas.
The Israeli people deserve better.
I want to again thank my friend, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, and Mr. Deutch,
for their hard work on this issue. I want to thank my friend, Chairman
Royce, for his leadership on so many issues, but on this issue as well.
Democrats and Republicans agree that we stand by our ally, Israel,
and we condemn the terrorist organization Hamas, which uses its own
people as human shields.
I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1500
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Yoho). He is a member of the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
Mr. YOHO. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate it.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 107.
This resolution denounces the cowardly act of using civilians--women
and children--as human shields by Hamas and any other terrorist
organization, which is in violation of international humanitarian law.
As a member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East
and North Africa, I was proud to have worked with Congresswoman Ros-
Lehtinen, Chairman Royce, and Ranking Member Engel. It is my hope that
this resolution sends a very clear message to Hamas that their
abhorrent practice of using civilians as human shields must stop.
Hamas has continued to fire rockets indiscriminately into Israel from
residential areas within Gaza, as well as having continued to store
munitions near schools and hospitals.
Mr. Speaker, what kind of human does this kind of thing? It is a
coward. It is a person who does not value human life.
Since June of 2014, over 2,000 rockets have been fired at Israel. In
response to the repeated rocket attacks, the United States and Israel
have worked together on missile defense projects, such as the Iron
Dome. The Iron Dome is an effective missile defense system. It has
proven its worth time after time, intercepting dozens of Hamas rockets
bound for densely-populated areas within Israel.
This resolution must pass in order to assure our Israeli allies of
our commitment to them, as well as to send a very clear message to
Hamas that their use of human shields must stop.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I was in Haifa, Israel, in August of 2006 during the second Lebanon
war, during the war between Hezbollah and Israel. While I was there, I
was in Haifa. Rockets were raining down. For 30 days, rockets rained
down on that city. Air sirens were blaring during the day. It looked
like a ghost town. It was very debilitating, as you can imagine.
What amazed me was the targeting of the civilian areas of that town
and the targeting of the hospitals--the deliberate targeting of
civilians. That was the goal. At one point, we had to go into a bunker
when rockets were fired close to where we were.
The one takeaway I had was that out of that came the Iron Dome. In a
few short years, that system, the Iron Dome, which they were working
on, went from the drawing board to deployment and battle, proving its
mettle, and it proved its ability to shield Israelis in the south from
the Hamas rocket threat more recently. Congress, I think, can be proud
of our role here in backing the Iron Dome, which is recognized as part
of this resolution.
There is another part of this resolution, Mr. Speaker. I have to tell
you that Israel has more than the right to defend itself; it has the
duty to protect its citizens. I saw what happened in Haifa--over 600
people in that one trauma hospital I was in.
It is exercising that responsibility right now to protect its people
because, time and again, day after day, these rockets continue to be
fired from these rocket launchers in Hamas-held territory.
No country would stand for the Hamas terror organization's rockets
and tunnels. Remember, these tunnels come 3 miles into the border, 3
miles under Israel--one of them right outside an Israeli kindergarten.
That is Hamas.
Of course, Hamas' whole reason for being, for any of you who have
read its charter, is to attack Israel and to attack Jews. This
nihilistic terrorist organization works to kill the maximum number of
Israeli innocents while using its own population as human shields. Yes,
that is a double war crime.
Since the last conflict, Hamas has improved on all aspects of its
operation, courtesy of Iran. In the same
[[Page H7078]]
way Iran supplied Hezbollah, Iran supplies Hamas, and this could not
have been done without the longer-range missiles--the M-302s--that Iran
has now transferred into the inventory of Hamas, so that Jerusalem and
Tel Aviv can be targets.
Earlier this month, my committee held a hearing that exposed Iran as
the primary backer of Hamas through weapons, through funding, through
missiles. Imagine the increase in material support to Hamas from Iran
if that government--if the Ayatollah regime--is granted further
sanctions relief as part of nuclear negotiations.
I ask all Members to join me in condemning Hamas on its despicable
use of human shields and to continue to stand with Israel to face down
the many shared threats that we face.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart as death and
violence once again rips the Middle East. Innocent civilians find
themselves again hostage in a war that none of them sought. The rockets
continue to rain down in Israel and civilians in Gaza find it harder
and harder to find refuge. And there is no end in sight despite the
ongoing work of peacemakers.
The most pressing need at the moment is an immediate ceasefire that
ends the rocket fire, allows humanitarian aid to reach those in need,
and lays the foundation for efforts to address Israel's long term
security needs. I am disappointed by the absence of any language in
this resolution supporting international efforts to bring about an
immediate ceasefire. Additionally, no one has come forward today to
argue how this legislation brings us any closer to a peaceful
resolution in the region or an end to the violence, terror, and fear
being experienced in Israel and Gaza.
Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, many, but not all of
them civilians. Over 50 Israelis, including 3 civilians and two
Israeli-American soldiers, have been killed so far. The key concern for
me is the qualifier--so far. A key question at this volatile moment is
how to end the violence. This resolution is absolutely silent on that
point.
I strongly believe that we need to work for an immediate ceasefire to
prevent further death and destruction in both Israel and Gaza. I
commend the U.S. for continuing to seek an immediate ceasefire which I
fully support. Despite the gallant attempts of the Secretary of State
and the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and others, an agreement
remains elusive and the violence continues.
The resolution rightly condemns Hamas, a terrorist organization that
has shown time and again its disregard for innocent human life. The
only party that seems to benefit from further chaos and loss of life is
Hamas, which continues to lob rockets at innocent Israelis. The barrage
of rockets must stop. Hamas has no regard for the lives it puts in
danger. Its despicable tactics have been thoroughly denounced by the
international community including the U.N. Secretary General who
recently noted that ``the United Nations position is clear: We condemn
strongly the rocket attacks. These must stop immediately. We condemn
the use of civilians--schools, hospital and other civilian facilities--
for military purposes. No country would accept rockets raining down on
its territory--and all countries and parties have an international
obligation to protect civilians.''
The resolution recognizes, as President Obama has, that Israel has a
right to defend itself from relentless rocket attacks. The current
rocket count is well over 1,000 and growing every day. Israel does not
need authorization from the U.S. House of Representatives to act to
stop the rocket fire by Hamas.
I have been to Sderot. I talked with Israelis living in the shadows
of the rockets, including one woman whose relative was killed by a
rocket from Gaza in a previous conflict. And I remember her fervent
desire to live at peace with her neighbors.
I would point out that the resolution rightly recognizes that
innocent civilians on both sides have suffered. According to the U.N.,
nearly 10% of the population of Gaza are seeking shelter at U.N.
facilities, some of which have been attacked. The U.S. has recently
announced it would provide $47 million to help meet immediate
humanitarian needs in Gaza amid deteriorating conditions.
However, I remain concerned that this resolution does not press for
an immediate ceasefire by all parties or urge or express support for
efforts by the U.S. and international community to push for that peace.
That is the best way to support innocent civilians on both sides--
ending the violence that threatens them. You can't force peace on those
who don't want it, but we must make every effort to offer a path out of
misery and suffering and fear.
As President Obama has said, ``Israel has a right to defend itself
against rocket and tunnel attacks from Hamas.'' He also stated, ``I've
also said, however, that we have serious concerns about the rising
number of Palestinian civilian deaths and the loss of Israeli lives.
And that is why it now has to be our focus and the focus of the
international community to bring about a ceasefire that ends the
fighting and that can stop the deaths of innocent civilians, both in
Gaza and in Israel.''
As a Congress, we should join with the State Department, the U.N.
Security Council, and others in urging all parties to redouble efforts
to protect civilians, to find a way to end the violence and ensure
peace and security for all, and to then move to find a long-term
resolution that meets Israel's security needs and the rights of
civilians to live in peace. This cycle of violence cannot continue
indefinitely.
Innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians cannot afford another
three weeks of rocket fire and further bloodshed. We must continue to
push for a ceasefire and to help find a long term solution that will
allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, side by side. What is
needed now is de-escalation of violence and escalation of diplomatic
efforts.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 107, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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