Congress & the Middle East:
Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3542, the Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act, on February 14, 2018.  

This bill states that it is U.S. policy to: (1) condemn the use of human shields by Hamas as an act of terrorism and a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, and (2) act against those engaging in or supporting the use of human shields.

The President is urged to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (U.N.) to use U.S. influence at the U.N. Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hamas's use of human shields.

The President shall prohibit property transactions and U.S. entry with respect to: (1) each foreign person or entity that is a member of or acting on behalf of Hamas and that is responsible for or complicit in Hamas' use of human shields; and (2) each foreign person or entity and each agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that has significantly facilitated any act with respect to such use of human shields, provided material support to a listed person or entity, or attempted to facilitate or support such acts or persons.

The President may waive a sanction for 120 days with prior congressional certification that such waiver is vital to U.S. national security interests.

To read the full text of H.R. 3542, please click here.  

Source: Congress.gov.