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Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act

Congresswoman Betty McCollum has introduced the  Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act (H.R. 3103) to prohibit Israel from using U.S. taxpayer dollars on the military detention, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; to support the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; or on any support or assistance for Israel's unilateral annexation of Palestinian territory in violation of international humanitarian law.

Read Rep. McCollum's full statement on the introduction of the bill here.

The Problem

Millions of Palestinians have lived their entire lives under the systemic oppression of Israel's military occupation.

  • The Government of Israel and its military detains around 500 to 700 Palestinian children between the ages of 12 and 17 each year and prosecutes them before a military court system that lacks basic and fundamental guarantees of due process in violation of international standards.
  • The United Nations Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported in March 2023 that 58 schools in the West Bank, which are attended by 6,500 children, are subject to demolition orders issued by Israeli authorities.
  • OCHA reported between April 15, 2021 and March 30, 2023, Israeli authorities demolished or seized 1,840 Palestinian structures across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulting in the displacement of 2,170 people, including 1,104 Palestinian children.

Israel is a U.S. ally and for the past 25 years, Congress has focused on providing Israel security funding while passing resolutions supporting a two-state solution. During this time, Israel has been strategically expanding settlements, committing flagrant violations of human rights against Palestinian children and families, and aggressively undermining any prospects for a Palestinian state.

U.S. assistance intended for Israel's security should foster peace and must never be used to violate the human rights of children, demolish the homes of Palestinian families, or to permanently annex Palestinian lands.

The Legislation

The Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act prohibits U.S. taxpayer funding to the Government of Israel from being used for 1) the military detention, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; 2) supporting the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; and, 3) any support or assistance for Israel's unilateral annexation of Palestinian territory in violation of international humanitarian law.

The Secretary of State is required to certify annually to Congress that foreign aid to Israel does not violate any of the outlined prohibited uses.

The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the expenditure of U.S. taxpayer funds by Israel for "off-shore procurement" and compliance with Congressionally mandated requirements. The goal of this provision is transparency and accountability for the expenditure of U.S. foreign aid, as we do with all countries.

Cosponsors

Joining Rep. McCollum as Original Cosponsors are:  Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12), Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03).

Supporting Organizations (75+)

Defense for Children International – Palestine
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International USA
J Street
Oxfam America
American Friends Service Committee
Minnesota Peace Project
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Demand Progress

CODEPINK

ReThinking Foreign Policy

RootsAction.org

Peace Action

Cafe Palestina

MPower Change Action Fund

Adalah Justice Project

Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR-USA)

Muslim Peace Fellowship

Jewish Voice for Peace Action

Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine

Disciples Palestine Israel Network

Episcopal Peace Fellowship-Palestine Israel Network

Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights

Citizens for Justice in the Middle East—Kansas City

Committee for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel

New Hampshire Veterans for Peace

Progressive Democrats of America

Palestine TaskForce of the California Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church

United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network

Indiana Center for Middle East Peace

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association

Center for Jewish Nonviolence

San Jose State University

Partners for Palestine

The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Virginia Coalition for Human Rights (VCHR)

Washington Advocates for Palestinian Rights

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

The United Methodist ChurchGeneral Board of Church and Society

Churches for Middle East Peace

Northfielders for Justice in Palestine/Israel

Friends of Wadi Foquin

Pax Christi USA

Migrant Roots Media

Colorado Coalition For Palestine

Al-Bireh Society

Bishop's Committee for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia

Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace

United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR)

American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine (AFRP)

Middle East Peace Now

Justice Democrats

Working Families Party

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)

Americans for Justice in Palestine (AJP Action)

Brooklyn For Peace

Friends of Sabeel Colorado

Center for Constitutional Rights

Justice4Palestine-LA

Middle East Ministry of All Saints Church, Pasadena

Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland Chapter

Community Not Cages, Winona

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
IfNotNow Movement

Coulee Region Coalition for Palestinian Rights (CRCPR)

The Episcopal Church

HRA:PI/CD3 (Human Rights Awareness: Palestine Israel, 3rd MA Congressional District)

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, US

Central Pacific Conference Palestine/Israel Network

Institute for Policy Studies, New Internationalism Project

Norwegian Refugee Council

Win Without War

Americans for Peace Now

Support Life Foundation

US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Sunrise Movement

T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
KinderUSA
Movement for Black Lives
Global Communities
Palestine Legal
Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy
Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR-USA)
Muslim Peace Fellowship
Texas Arab American Democrats
Palestinian American organizations Network
U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)
ReThinking Foreign Policy
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Showing Up for Racial Justice San Francisco
BADIL
Our Revolution
Jewish Voice for Peace Central Ohio
MADRE
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
National Lawyers Guild

T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
Bright Stars of Bethlehem

NorCal Sabeel

American Friends of Combatants for Peace (AFCFP).

Additional Resources

Previous Actions to Protect Palestinian Human Rights

The legislation follows previous legislation introduced in the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses, and after letters led by Congresswoman McCollum in 2015 and 2016 to the Obama administration about the human rights of Palestinian children subjected to Israeli military detention. In 2015, Congresswoman McCollum led 18 colleagues calling on Secretary of State John Kerry to "elevate the human rights of Palestinian children to a priority status in our bilateral relationship with the Government of Israel." In 2016, Congresswoman McCollum led 19 colleagues urging President Barack Obama to appoint a Special Envoy for Palestinian Youth.

  • Letter to Secretary John Kerry (June 2015)
  • Letter to President Barack Obama (June 2016)
  • Introduced H.R. 4391, the Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act (2017)
  • IntroducedH.R. 2407, the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act (2019)
  • Introduced H.R. 2590, the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act (2021)