HR6196-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Israel-Hamas War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act.

2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— in its premeditated, unjustified, and deadly assault on Israel in years on October 7, 2023, Hamas militants crossing the border with a heavy barrage of rockets and gunmen, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,400 Israelis and 32 United States citizens, crimes that include but are not limited to— the deliberate killing of civilians in their homes, including men, women, and children; the taking hostages that include Israeli and United States citizens; and the wanton destruction of property and civilian infrastructure; and and other international human rights violations.

3. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States— to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence and information related to war crimes and other atrocities committed during Hamas’s attack on Israel that began on October 7, 2023, for use in appropriate domestic, foreign, and international courts and tribunals prosecuting those responsible for such crimes consistent with applicable law; to help deter the commission of war crimes and other atrocities in Israel and surrounding areas by publicizing to the maximum possible extent, efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible for the commission of war crimes during the full-scale attack of Israel that began on October 7, 2023; and to continue efforts to identify, deter, and pursue accountability for war crimes and other atrocities committed around the world and by other perpetrators, and to leverage international cooperation and best practices in this regard with respect to the current situation in Israel.

4. Report on United States efforts Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, which may include a classified annex, describing in detail the following— United States Government efforts to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence and information related to war crimes and other atrocities committed during the full-scale attack of Israel by Hamas, including a description of— the respective roles of various agencies, departments, and offices, and the interagency mechanism established for the coordination of such efforts; the types of information and evidence that are being collected, analyzed, and preserved to help identify those responsible for the commission of war crimes or other atrocities; and steps taken to coordinate with, and support the work of, allies, partners, international institutions and organizations, and nongovernmental organizations in such efforts; media, public diplomacy, and information operations to the world aware of efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible for the commission of war crimes or other atrocities during this conflict, and of the types of acts that may be prosecutable; and the process for a domestic, foreign, or international court or tribunal to request and obtain from the United States Government information related to war crimes or other atrocities committed during this attack.