Expressing Deep Concern Over the Use of Civilians as Human Shields

Floor Speech

EXPRESSING DEEP CONCERN OVER THE USE OF CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

During last summer's war between Israel and Lebanon, which was initiated by Hezbollah jihadist militants breaching Israel's border and killing and kidnapping Israeli soldiers, Hezbollah extremists used Lebanese civilians as human shields to protect themselves from counterattacks by Israeli forces.

Hezbollah jihadists embedded their forces among innocent civilians in violation of international law.

According to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, ``Hezbollah and its sponsors have brought devastation upon the people of Lebanon, dragging them into a war that they did not choose, and exploiting them as human shields.''

To express deep concern over the use of civilians by Hezbollah and to condemn these actions, my distinguished colleagues, Congressman RON KLEIN and Congresswoman ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, introduced this bill.

Among other things in the bill, it strongly condemns the use of innocent civilians as human shields, including Hezbollah's use of this savage and illegal tactic during last summer's war between Israel and Lebanon; calls on the international community to recognize and condemn these violations of international law; and calls on responsible nations and experts in the area of international humanitarian law to pay special attention on the use of human shields in violation of international humanitarian law and make further recommendations on the prevention of such violation in the future.

I urge my colleagues to support this very important legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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