[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 227 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 227

    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.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2025

    Ms. Rosen (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Booker, Ms. Collins, Mr. 
  Schumer, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Kim, and Mr. 
 Coons) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 kidnaped more than 250 hostages, 
        comprised of more than 20 nationalities, into Gaza;
Whereas Hamas committed acts of sexual violence on October 7th, 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 4 United States 
        nationals, Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Judi Weinstein, and Gad Haggai;
Whereas the United States Government secured the release of Edan Alexander on 
        May 12, 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 executed hostages in captivity and has threatened additional 
        executions and to 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 United States 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 Senate--
            (1) condemns Hamas in the harshest terms for its 
        premeditated, coordinated, and brutal terrorist attacks on 
        Israel;
            (2) decries Hamas's 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 taking 
        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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