Opposing Any Endorsement Or Further Consideration Of Report Of The United Nations Fact Finding Mission On The Gaza Conflict

Floor Speech

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of this essential Resolution, unequivocally opposing any endorsement or further consideration of the Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict.

* The United Nations report on the conflict in Gaza is reflective of the original mandate ordering its creation: biased and one-sided. Like all sovereign nations, Israel has not only a right, but moreover, an obligation, to ensure the safety and security of her citizens. Israel's military operation was in response to 8 years during which Hamas terrorists fired more than 10,000 rockets, mortars and missiles at Israeli towns and villages.

* Despite these facts, and due to the original mandate that precluded it from drafting an objective report, the Commission concluded that Israel's defensive operation was a war on Gaza's civilian population. This claim is an outright distortion of the truth.

* Throughout the Gaza Conflict, Israel went above and beyond--even putting itself at risk--to protect innocent Palestinian civilians. Specifically, Israel dropped leaflets and made phone calls to targeted Palestinian areas to warn citizens they were in danger, even if that meant losing the element of surprise and putting the lives of its own soldiers at risk.

* This report ignores evidence that many civilian casualties were a result of Hamas routinely using Palestinian civilians as human shields. Eyewitness testimonies, video and Israeli intelligence reports show that during the operation, Hamas stored weapons in mosques, used hospitals as headquarters, and intentionally endangered Palestinian civilians.

* As a member of the Congressional Taskforce on Israel at the United Nations, it troubles me to see yet another biased, unfair attack against the State of Israel. Not only is this report a disgrace to the mission of the United Nations, but it distracts us from the real issue at hand--achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. Israelis, Palestinians and the international community must not lose the focus of this important goal, and must continue working to fight terrorism and support peace.

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