Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Rick Crawford (R-AR) will introduce a resolution later this week condemning Hamas for its “campaign of executions and intimidation against innocent Palestinians in Gaza” since the implementation of a ceasefire with Israel earlier this month, Jewish Insider has learned. 

Crawford is chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Gottheimer sits on the committee.

The bipartisan resolution criticizes Hamas’ actions against Gazans since the Oct. 10 ceasefire implementation date, accusing the terrorist group of attempting “to suppress dissent and reassert control over the territory, resulting in the deaths of scores of civilians.” 

“The House of Representatives condemns in the strongest terms the killings and acts of terror committed by Hamas against innocent Palestinians in Gaza,” it reads.

The resolution also “reaffirms the commitment of the United States to supporting the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and to advancing stability and peace for innocent civilians in Gaza.” 

Videos emerged in the days following the implementation of the ceasefire showing Hamas terrorists lining up and executing Palestinians in the streets of Gaza City, often on charges of “collaboration” with the enemy. Analysts described the killings as Hamas’ attempt to reassert itself as the dominant force in the Palestinian enclave following the withdrawal of Israeli forces. 

Since then, Hamas has continued carrying out the executions, largely of members of rival Palestinian groups. 

Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command who is leading a civil-military coordination center in Israel to help maintain the ceasefire, released a statement earlier this month calling on Hamas to cease the killings. 

“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza — in both Hamas-held parts of Gaza and those secured by the IDF behind the Yellow Line,” Cooper said, later calling on Hamas to begin “disarming without delay.”

A group of House Intelligence Committee members visited Israel this week, meeting with top Israeli leaders as well as visiting one of the sites of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks, a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation staging site and the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

The group included committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Ronny Jackson (R-TX).

The lawmakers met with officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mossad Director David Barnea, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, IDF representatives and Palestinian Authority officials.

The group also visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border, which suffered heavy losses in the Oct. 7 attacks, and met with hostage families, including the family of Evyatar David, an Israeli hostage shown in a recent video emaciated and forced by Hamas to dig his own grave in a Gaza tunnel.

“Israel and its people have experienced untold levels of tragedy and devastation because of the very fact that they exist,” Crawford said in a statement. “But the Jewish people are a strong, resilient, and compassionate people. Based on our conversations and briefings with military and intelligence partners this week, it is clear Israel is committed to a peaceful end to the unrest in the region but will not cede any ground to Hamas or other Iranian terrorist proxies.” 

He said that the group’s “message was simple — the United States stands with Israel and its people. I am grateful for the ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and our Israeli partners as we work to advance our shared goals in the region.”

In a statement, Gottheimer emphasized the need to free the hostages, increase humanitarian aid and end Hamas’ rule in Gaza.

“Given the situation, it was extremely important to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, Ambassador Huckabee, and family members of hostages still in Gaza,” Gottheimer said. “It was also critical to visit an aid staging location at the Kerem Shalom border crossing and a GHF coordination site, which gave me a better understanding of efforts to surge aid into Gaza.”

“We must ensure aid is able to swiftly reach Gazans in need, not Hamas terrorists, who continue to steal food from innocent Palestinians,” he continued. “With so much misinformation, there is no better way to understand the situation than to see it firsthand. By promoting security and stability in the Middle East, the United States will improve our own national security.”

Jackson said in a statement, “This trip not only provided critical firsthand updates from our Defense, State, and Intelligence partners on the ever-evolving elements that threaten Israel, the Middle East, and ultimately the United States, but also reinforced the need for continued strong support to our key ally in the region, Israel.”

He praised both Huckabee and Netanyahu for the work that they are doing.

“We need strong leadership and coordination to protect American lives and interests, and I’m proud to see the Trump administration making national security a top priority with a strategy that is tough, smart, and focused on keeping our country and allies safe,” Jackson continued.

Discussions touched on issues including freeing the hostages, the need to end Hamas’ control of Gaza, the need to increase humanitarian aid — including through the GHF — the need for continued maximum pressure on Iran, the threats from Iran-backed terrorist groups, Hamas’ use of human shields and the need for continued bipartisanship in the U.S.-Israel relationship, according to press releases.