Over 100 Congressmen call on UN to condemn Hamas

WASHINGTON — Over one hundred congressmen prepare to deliver a strong missive to the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, calling on the UN to condemn Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields, which they say is a direct violation of international law.

Reps. Steve Israel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Tom Cole (R-OK) announce that they had secured the signatures of over 100 members of Congress from both sides criticizing Hamas’s policy of using human shields, as well as its practice of launching missiles aimed at civilians in Israeli population centers and its refusal to de-escalate the conflict by adhering to internationally-backed ceasefires.

“The fact that Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields shows their blatant disregard for human life. Israel, on the other hand, is doing everything in its power, not only to protect its own citizens, but also to prevent as much as possible causalities among Palestinians,” Rep. Israel wrote in a statement announcing the letter.

“That the UN is choosing to wrongly investigate Israel’s actions rather than condemning Hamas’ continual violation of international law is simply despicable. That’s why I join my colleagues in calling on the UN to rethink its course.”

“This letter puts the UNHRC on alert that it can no longer continue its anti-Israel agenda, and it must investigate Hamas’ human rights violations,” warned Ros-Lehtinen.

— Rebecca Shimoni Stoil