Senate passes bill sanctioning Hamas, Hezbollah 'human shields' practice
The legislation, titled the STOP Using Human Shields Act, was authored and supported by Republican and Democrats.
By MICHAEL WILNERUpdated: OCTOBER 12, 2018 23:36Palestinian students supporting Hamas stand next to mock Hamas rockets during a rally celebrating their winning of the student council election at Birzeit University in the West Bank city of Ramallah April 23, 2015.(photo credit: REUTERS/MOHAMAD TOROKMAN)
WASHINGTON -- The Senate passed legislation on Friday mandating the government sanction members of Hamas and Hezbollah responsible for using human shields in warfare.The legislation, titled the STOP Using Human Shields Act, was authored and supported by Republican and Democrats. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.Various American Jewish groups and Israel advocacy organizations praised the bill's passage."Hamas and Hezbollah are blatantly violating international law by placing their terrorist infrastructure among civilian populations. In any future conflict in Gaza or Lebanon, the lives of innocent civilians will be endangered because of the reckless and illegal behavior of these terrorist organizations," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee said in a statement.The Senate also approved a bill that sanctions foreign government agencies, individuals and companies that support Hezbollah financially or militarily.The Treasury Department is already increasing its pressure campaign on the Iranian proxy organization, based in Lebanon, using existing sanctions tools.
