2024 -- S 2479

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LC004048

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONDEMNING THE BARBARIC ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7, 2023,

BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, de la Cruz, Zurier, Rogers, E Morgan, Paolino, and
DeLuca

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     WHEREAS, On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched an unprovoked and massive

attack on the nation of Israel, attacking by air, sea and land, murdering raping and kidnapping

innocent civilians, including children, woman and elderly people; and

     WHEREAS, Since October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists have killed more than 1,200 Israelis

and injured more than 12,000; and

     WHEREAS, At least 11 United States citizens in Israel have been killed by Hamas since

October 7, 2023; and

     WHEREAS, Since October 7, 2023, Hamas has been directly responsible for the deaths

of thousands of Palestinians; and

     WHEREAS, The expansion of this war to other fronts by Hezbollah, Iran and others

would create an even more devastating regional catastrophe; and

     WHEREAS, Hamas is a United States-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization; and

     WHEREAS, Iran has long provided support to Hamas and other terrorist groups and

proxies, and prior United States Government unclassified assessments indicated that, “Iran has

historically provided up to $100 million annually in combined support to Palestinian terrorist

groups including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PLJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation

of Palestine-General Command”; and

     WHEREAS, Hamas used rudimentary, civilian equipment, such as bulldozers,

paragliders, and rubber boats in its assault on Israel, demonstrating the importance of fully

enforcing tight controls on what materials go into the Gaza strip, including thorough vetting of all

forms of assistance; and

     WHEREAS, Israel is a major non-NATO ally and major strategic partner of the United

States; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby:

     Stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and

     other terrorist organizations;

     Reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defense;

     Condemns Hamas’ brutal war against Israel;

     Calls on all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas’ brutal war against Israel;

     Calls on Hamas to immediately cease these violent attacks and safely release all living

     hostages and return the bodies of deceased hostages;

     Mourns the more than 1,200 Israelis and 11 Americans killed and over 12,000 others

     wounded in Hamas’ unprovoked attack on Israel;

     Reaffirms the United States commitment to Israel’s security, including through security

     assistance in accordance with the 2016 U.S. Israel Memorandum of Understanding;

     Urges full enforcement of the Taylor Force Act (Title X of division S of Public Law 115-

     141, 132 Stat. 1143) and other restrictions in United States law to prevent United States

     foreign assistance benefitting terrorists, directly or indirectly;

     Condemns Iran’s support for terrorist groups and proxies, including Hamas and the

     Palestinians Islamic Jihad;

     Urges full enforcement of United States sanctions against Iran to prevent Iran’s funding

     of terrorist groups, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad; and

     Stands ready to assist Israel with emergency resupply and other security, diplomatic, and

     intelligence support; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin

Netanyahu, the President of the United States, Joseph Biden, the United States Senate Leaders,

Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Minority

Leader of the House Hakeem Jeffries, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, and the

Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

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