119-hres413

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 413 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 413

 Condemning Hamas for its premeditated, coordinated, and brutal 
terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, against Israel and demanding that 
 Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages and return them to 
 safety, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 14, 2025

 Ms. Stevens (for herself and Mr. Hill of Arkansas) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
 Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Condemning Hamas for its premeditated, coordinated, and brutal 
terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, against Israel and demanding that 
 Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages and return them to 
 safety, and for other purposes.

Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas, the United States-designated and Iran-backed 
 terror group, launched premeditated, coordinated, and brutal terrorist 
 attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israel, targeting the Israeli people;
Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded more than 20 communities bordering 
 the Gaza Strip and attacked innocent young people attending the Tribe of 
 Nova music festival;
Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and wounded 
 nearly 4,000 people;
Whereas Hamas posted and live streamed footage of executing Israeli civilians, 
 including entire families being slaughtered and horrific acts of 
 violence targeting young children;
Whereas Hamas, and other terrorist organizations, kidnapped more than 250 
 hostages, comprised of more than 20 nationalities, into Gaza;
Whereas Hamas committed acts of sexual violence on October 7, and returned 
 hostages confirmed they were subjected to acts of sexual violence and 
 psychological torture while held in captivity by Hamas;
Whereas the hostages that were taken include children, women, men, and the 
 elderly;
Whereas 196 hostages, 147 alive, have been released or rescued by the Israel 
 Defense Forces and 58 remain in captivity, including four Americans, 
 Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Judi Weinstein, and Gad Haggai;
Whereas the United States secured the release of Edan Alexander on May 12th, 
 2025;
Whereas, upon their release in the early part of 2025, hostages were paraded 
 through Gaza and forced to participate in staged propaganda displays;
Whereas, according to testimonials from released hostages, hostages were held in 
 brutal conditions, given barely any food or water, confined to cages, 
 physically abused, psychologically tormented, and struggled to breathe 
 with minimal airflow while held underground;
Whereas some hostages are known to be in dire need of urgent medical assistance;
Whereas Hamas has threatened to execute hostages and broadcast the executions 
 publicly;
Whereas Hamas has engaged in psychological warfare by forcing hostages to 
 participate in cruel propaganda videos that torment the hostages' 
 families;
Whereas Hamas is inhumanely holding onto the bodies of deceased hostages as 
 bargaining chips, including American hostages, depriving families of a 
 proper burial and closure;
Whereas Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions states that the taking 
 of hostages is and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place 
 whatsoever; and
Whereas the deliberate murder and hostage-taking of innocent civilians are 
 prohibited by international law: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) condemns Hamas in the harshest terms for its 
 premeditated, coordinated, and brutal terrorist attacks on 
 Israel;

    (2) decries Hamas abductions and threats made against 
 hostages, including threats to use hostages as human shields;

    (3) demands that Hamas provide access and medical care to 
 all hostages;

    (4) demands that Hamas immediately release all remaining 58 
 hostages and return them to safety;

    (5) recognizes that the taking of hostages is a violation 
 of international humanitarian law;

    (6) applauds the Administration for securing the release of 
 Edan Alexander and calls on the White House to continue to take 
 all possible steps to secure the release of all the hostages 
 held captive by Hamas; and

    (7) expresses sympathy to the hostages and those wounded, 
 and to their families for this travesty to justice and personal 
 hardship, and mourns those killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, 
 and during captivity.
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