The United States House of Representatives followed in the Senate’s footsteps by passing legislation targeting individuals responsible for the tactic employed by Hamas and Hizbullah of using “human shields” in military confrontations with Israel. The “Sanctioning of the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act” must now be signed by President Donald Trump in order to become law. “This is the first time Congress has taken legislative action against this heinous practice,” the American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbying group wrote in a statement. “The importance of this…is underscored by the recent discovery of Hizbullah terror tunnels into Israel that originated under the cover of civilian houses in Lebanon. And just weeks ago—using the cover of civilian populations in Gaza—Hamas fired more than 500 rockets at communities across southern Israel.” The bipartisan bill, also pushed by the Christians United for Israel organization, allows for sanctions to be imposed on members of terrorist groups or foreign state actors that deliberately place civilians in harm’s way. It comes as Congress is still debating whether to include the Israel Anti-Boycott Act in a massive annual spending bill that must be passed to enable the government to keep functioning. That legislation, which some left-leaning lawmakers oppose, would criminally penalize American citizens that participate in boycotts against Israel and companies operating therein.
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