Mast, Gottheimer, Re-Introduce Bill To Sanction Financial Supporters of Hamas
Press Release
U.S. Congressmen Brian Mast (FL-18) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) today re-introduced the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act. The bipartisan bill imposes sanctions on foreign persons, agencies and governments that assist Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad or their affiliates.
"Following my service in the Army, I chose to volunteer alongside the Israeli Defense Forces because our countries share the common ideals of freedom, democracy and mutual respect for all people. Hamas preaches destruction to Israel and death to the values we hold dear in the United States," Rep. Mast said. "The United States must not tolerate anybody who provides support to these radical Islamic terrorists."
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated by the United States government as global terrorists. Hamas is responsible for the death of more than 400 Israelis and at least 25 United States citizens. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad has claimed credit for multiple terrorist attacks in Israel, including an attack that killed a New Jersey student.
"The terrorist group Hamas is well known for firing rockets and digging terror tunnels into Israel and using Gazans, including women and children, as human shields. It is critical that the United States and our allies continue to isolate terrorist groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad by cutting them off at the source," Rep. Gottheimer said. "This bill will strengthen sanctions to weaken these terrorist groups that threaten our ally Israel, undermine peace, and further destabilize the Middle East. This bipartisan legislation, which has already passed the House unanimously, also contains important humanitarian considerations. I hope Congress will swiftly pass the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act so it can be signed into law."
The Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act passed the House of Representatives last Congress. Reps. Mast and Gottheimer are eager to build on this momentum and work with their colleagues in the U.S. Senate to get it signed into law this Congress.
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