Yesterday, U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and David Perdue (R-Ga.), introduced the bipartisan STOP Using Human Shields Act. The bill would impose sanctions on those who use or facilitate the use of human shields, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and ISIS.
The STOP Using Human Shields Act would:
· Direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the U.S. to secure support for a UN Security Council resolution that would condemn the use of human shields as a violation of international law; impose multilateral sanctions against terrorist organizations for utilizing such tactics; and require member states to take specific steps to prevent the use of human shields from occurring.
· Impose sanctions on each foreign person that is a member of a foreign terrorist organization, or each agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that the President has determined knowingly encouraged, supported, ordered, controlled, or has otherwise been complicit in any attempt to use civilians or protected property to deliberately cause casualties or shield lawful targets from attack.