Sen. Cruz Introduces STOP Using Human Shields Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today, joined by Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and David Perdue (R-Ga.), introduced the bipartisan STOP Using Human Shields Act. The bill imposes sanctions on those who use or facilitate the use of human shields, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and ISIS.

“America, Israel, and our other allies are engaged in a fight against radical Islamic terrorist organizations, from Hamas and Hezbollah to Al Qaeda and ISIS, who cynically use human shields against us,” Sen. Cruz said. “Unfortunately, organizations like the United Nations incentivize this barbaric tactic by blaming civilized countries, who do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, for whatever civilian casualties that do occur. The United States should hold accountable the monsters who commit these war crimes. This bill will impose consequences on those who enable and facilitate the use of human shields.”

Donnelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “The use of human shields – including by terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah – is barbaric, illegal, and offensive to the most basic standards of human decency. I hope the Senate will soon consider this bipartisan legislation that I’m partnering on with Senator Cruz, because it would condemn this practice and impose sanctions on any individuals involved in such reprehensible activities.”

“The bipartisan STOP Using Human Shields Act enables the United States to lead international counter-terrorism efforts to deter civilians being placed in harm’s way by Hamas to conduct and conceal it campaign of war crimes against Israel. I have long supported strong sanctions to specifically target foreign terrorist organizations, from Hezbollah to Hamas, who are responsible for maiming and murdering Americans and our allies and partners," Sen. Blumenthal said.

“As groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah continue to put innocent lives in grave danger by using human shields, it is essential that action is taken to punish these organizations,” Scott said. “We know these and many other terrorists have little regard for human life, and they need to be sent a strong message that the use of human shields will not be tolerated.”

“Terrorist organizations like Hamas in Gaza continue their efforts to kill and terrorize innocent civilians while using human shields in the process showing their utter disregard for human life,” Rubio said. “This bill is an important step in holding accountable those involved in this heinous practice.” 

“Hamas and Hezbollah have no respect for human rights or innocent lives,” said Senator Perdue, a member of the Armed Services Committee. “These terrorists have turned schools into arsenals, hospitals into targets, and are even using children and adults as human shields. Pure evil is the only way to describe these heinous actions, and this new sanctions category will give the United States Treasury Department another tool to cut off Hamas and Hezbollah from the global community.”

The full bill text may be viewed here. The STOP Using Human Shields Act would:

• Direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the U.S. to secure support for a UN Security Council resolution that would condemn the use of human shields as a violation of international law; impose multilateral sanctions against terrorist organizations for utilizing such tactics; and require member states to take specific steps to prevent the use of human shields from occurring.
• Impose sanctions on each foreign person that is a member of a foreign terrorist organization, or each agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that the President has determined knowingly encouraged, supported, ordered, controlled, or has otherwise been complicit in any attempt to use civilians or protected property to deliberately cause casualties or shield lawful targets from attack.

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