Hamas condemned a US bill that sanctions the group for using civilians in Gaza as "human shields," especially in the military confrontations against Israel in recent years.
In a press statement, Spokesman for Hamas Fawzi Barhoum said that the bill sides with "the Israeli narrative."
“These accusations are based solely on Israeli propaganda and support the Israeli narrative, which will pave the way for targeting the Palestinian legitimate right of resisting an occupying force as stipulated by the international law,” said Barhoum.
“This decision comes to complete the plan to liquidate the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people,” Barhoum added, criticizing the positions of President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli occupation and plan to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the Holy City.
"In the face of this propaganda-fueled bill that acts as a cover-up for future Israeli crimes, Hamas will continue to stand with the Palestinian people and defend them from Israeli aggression that has previously perished thousands of innocent civilians," Barhoum stressed.
He stressed that the step taken by the US House of Representatives will allow the Israeli occupation to take advantage of this decision to commit more crimes and violations against the Palestinians.
The House unanimously passed the Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act on Wednesday, which was prepared by Committee on Foreign Affairs.
"It is US policy to condemn the use of human shields by Hamas as an act of terrorism and a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, and to act against those engaging in or supporting the use of human shields," the bill says.
The bill also accuses Hamas of taking shelter and launching offensives against Israel from civilian areas, including schools, hospitals, and mosques for too long.
“Their actions have knowingly and carelessly put innocent lives at risk—in clear violation of international law.”
The bill urges Trump to direct UN Ambassador "to use US influence at the UN Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hamas' use of human shields."
The House’s step comes days after US designates Hamas' Leader Ismail Haniyeh as a "global terrorist.”
Haniyeh is now on the US Treasury sanctions blacklist, which freezes any US-based assets he may have and bans any US person or company from doing business with him.
“Haniyeh has close links with Hamas’ military wing and has been a proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians,” the State Department said in a statement.
