February 11, 2025
Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Britt, and Mr. Fetterman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
March 13, 2025
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
Affirming that Hamas cannot retain any political or military control in the Gaza Strip .
Whereas Hamas was established in 1987, with the Hamas Covenant stating Israel will exist and will continue to exist until [it is] obliterate[d]
clearly signifying the intent of Hamas to destroy the State of Israel, eradicate the Jewish population, and undermine peace and prosperity in the Middle East;
Whereas, on October 8, 1997, the Secretary of State designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organization in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189) for their repeated support for acts of terrorism;
Whereas, since 2007, Hamas has served as the de facto governing body in the Gaza Strip;
Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas—
(1)
launched an unprovoked attack against the State of Israel;
(2)
brutally murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women, and children;
(3)
took more than 250 individuals hostage; and
(4)
injured thousands more individuals in the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust;
Whereas the United States Government has concluded that—
(1)
Hamas has received funding, weapons, and training from the Islamic Republic of Iran
; and
(2)
Iran provides up to $100,000,000 annually in combined support to Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas
; and
Whereas Hamas has threatened to attack the State of Israel again and stated We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again. The Al-Aqsa Deluge [the name Hamas gave its October 7 onslaught] is just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth
: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)
affirms that Hamas cannot be allowed to retain any political or military control in the Gaza Strip;
(2)
calls upon the President to use all economic and diplomatic tools possible to halt all sources of funding for Hamas from the Islamic Republic of Iran and all other sources of revenue; and
(3)
supports the State of Israel as it continues to defend its sovereignty against attacks from Hamas, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all other Iranian proxies.