A bipartisan group of House lawmakers have unveiled a resolution condemning the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The resolution condemns Hamas for the surprise attack last year on Israel that killed almost 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages. In the year since the attack, Israel has launched a deadly counteroffensive that has killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza, as it vows to eliminate Hamas for the attack.
The lawmakers call on Hamas to “immediately and unconditionally surrender” and release the remaining hostages. It calls on the group to cease its attacks on Israel and reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself from threats.
The resolution was introduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). He was joined by Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and 130 other lawmakers.
“As we commemorate one year since October 7, we honor the memory of the innocent civilians who were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists and we stand with our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel in its efforts to secure the safe return of the remaining hostages,” Gottheimer said in a statement.
“We can never forget that Hamas terrorists launched a devastating attack against Israel, brutally murdering more than 1,200 people, and kidnapping more than 240 people. 101 people remain captive, including 7 Americans.”
The lawmakers are urging humanitarian organizations, like the United Nations, to “unequivocally denounce” the Oct. 7 attack and Hamas’s “ongoing atrocities.” It condemns and denounces the rise of antisemitism, both in the United States and globally.
The resolution commits to ensuring humanitarian aid reaches “Palestinian noncombatants.”
Humanitarian aid organizations have long warned that civilians in Gaza face a famine as resources to the area have been limited since the start of the war. The death toll in Gaza surpassed 40,000 in August, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
The first anniversary of the attacks marks a grim milestone for the region. Israel has shifted its attention toward the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and killed several of the group’s top leaders. Most recently, Israel has fended off missiles from Iran and concerns grow that a larger regional war could ensue.