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house Bill H.R. 3342

Should Those Who Use Civilians as Human Shields & Assist Hezbollah Face Sanctions?

Argument in favor

Using civilians as a human shield during an armed conflict is a crime against humanity, and those who helped Hezbollah use human shields or otherwise support the terror group should be sanctioned.

ProudAmerican's Opinion

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10/22/2017

Hezbollah is a terrorist proxy of the Iranian Terror Mullahs and needs to be destroyed. They’re no better than ISIS, AQ, Haqqani Network, or the Taliban. The dangerous ideology being spread today by hardline Islam is dangerous, subhuman, and a threat to all civilized people.

Like (41)

Ticktock's Opinion

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10/25/2017

Yes, but how to prove it? Hezbollah isn’t the only group that has used human shields. Why doesn’t this apply to any group that uses human shields? Does this law mean that if it’s a group other than Hezbollah it’s OK to use human shields?

Like (24)

Steven's Opinion

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10/25/2017

Of course I cannot believe this is a question.

Like (19)

Argument opposed

The U.S. shouldn’t impose sanctions on Hezbollah for using civilians as human shields unless it also sanctions Israel for killing civilians, and this bill would further involve the U.S. in a Middle Eastern conflict.

Mancos's Opinion

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10/25/2017

This appears to be just another Trump immigration ban decoy.

Like (26)

Themis's Opinion

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10/25/2017

Ultimately, we should be doing everything we can to prevent the loss of life and promote peace in the Middle East. I fear that while the stated intentions of this bill seem clear, the actual outcome will be to fan the flames and reduce our credibility as an objective broker of peace in the region.

Like (7)

Latasya's Opinion

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10/26/2017

It should apply to more groups. And the president should not be the one who decide who is on the list.

Like (3)

What is House Bill H.R. 3342?

This bill would require the president to identify and impose sanctions on foreign people or entities affiliated with Hezbollah (also spelt Hizballah or Hizbullah) that have used civilians as human shields or provided material support to that terrorist group. Sanctioned individuals and entities would be unable to make property transactions in the U.S., blocked from entering the country, and have current visas revoked.

The president would provide a list of sanctioned people or entities to Congress and periodically update it. Additionally, the president would have the power to waive sanctions for up to 120 days if they determine applying them wouldn’t be in the U.S. national security interest.

Impact

Those sanctioned for using civilians as human shields or supporting Hezbollah; federal agencies enforcing sanctions; Congress; and the president.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 3342

$1.00 Million

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost less than $500,000 annually and total $1 million over the 2018-2022 period.

More Information

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) introduced this bill to sanction Hezbollah, a designated terror group, for its use of civilians as human shields:

“Since its creation, Hizballah has been an Iranian proxy dedicated to destroying Israel and combating American interests in the Middle East. From its bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in 1983, to its rocket attacks against Israel, to its expanding influence in Syria today, Hizballah’s terrorist activities have served as a direct challenge to the United States and our allies. The SHIELDS Act is a bipartisan effort to diminish Hizballah’s military capabilities and malign influence in the Middle East while advancing U.S. interests.”

This legislation passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee on a voice vote and has the support of 24 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, including 12 Republicans and nine Democrats.

Of Note: Hezbollah is a terrorist organization based in Lebanon which killed 241 U.S. Marines by bombing their barracks in Beirut in 1983. During its 34 day conflict with Israel in 2006, Hezbollah was accused of using human shields by deliberately positioning its rocket launchers in populated areas to maximize civilian casualties inflicted by Israel’s retaliatory strikes.

The Israeli military had a think-tank prepare a report detailing the use of human shields during the conflict. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) was also accused of war crimes because of civilian casualties during the conflict.

Media:

Sponsoring Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) Press Release
CBO Cost Estimate
The National
AIPAC (In Favor)
Foundation For Defense of Democracy (In Favor)

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: sadikgulec / iStock)

AKA

Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

Official Title

An act to impose sanctions with respect to foreign persons that are responsible for using civilians as human shields, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

Not enacted
The President has not signed this bill
The senate Passed October 11th, 2018
Passed by Voice Vote
The house Passed October 25th, 2017
Passed by Voice Vote
IntroducedJuly 20th, 2017

Bill Data

Issues

Committees

Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on the Judiciary
Committee on Foreign Relations

Sponsor

Rep Mike Gallagher

(R - WI)

26 Cosponsors

Introduced 07/20/2017

Full text of Bill

ProudAmerican's Opinion In Favor

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10/22/2017

Like (41)

Mancos's Opinion Against

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10/25/2017

This appears to be just another Trump immigration ban decoy.

Like (26)

Ticktock's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

Like (24)

Steven's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

Of course I cannot believe this is a question.

Like (19)

Walter's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

Hezbollah badly needs to be excluded from the world community.

Like (10)

Themis's Opinion Against

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10/25/2017

Like (7)

Denise's Opinion Against

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10/25/2017

Should include all groups not just one

Like (7)

Cross 's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

This seems like an obvious choice to make...

Like (5)

Jennifer 's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

There is no moral equivalence in Israel protecting its people from rogue nations and terrorist groups and Hezbollah using human shields. The difference is that the USA and Israel’s leadership, and its General’s who make tough decisions in time of war, is that they desperately avoid collateral damage to civilians; Hezbollah and other terrorist groups seek them out! Using civilians as shields is just one example of how they commit their evil. ISIS setting up headquarters in day cares and hospitals is another. Sanctions and all other means should be used to marginalize these groups and their supporters until they are purged from every decent society.

Like (4)

Esther's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

Hezbollah or anyone else should be sanctioned for human shields. Why single out Hezbollah? Aren’t we all part of the human race?

Like (4)

Latasya's Opinion Against

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10/26/2017

It should apply to more groups. And the president should not be the one who decide who is on the list.

Like (3)

Brandon's Opinion Against

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10/26/2017

I stopped at “require the president to...” Nope.

Like (3)

RadicalModerate's Opinion Against

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10/25/2017

Then you would have to sanction everyone including the USA. Who made us Israels bitch anyway?

Like (3)

David's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

Using civilians as human shields is a war crime. It seems to be a frequently used tactic in the ME conflict. I agree that anyone who does this should be sanctioned by arrest and trial for war crimes against humanity.

Like (3)

Monica's Opinion In Favor

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10/25/2017

This should not be only against one group. This should include all war crime criminals. How damaged is the world to have to write this out?

Like (2)

TheGayRepublican's Opinion In Favor

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10/26/2017

YES! HOLD ALL MUSLIMS ACCOUNTABLE!

Like (2)

Erin's Opinion Against

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10/26/2017

This is an attempt to cause unsettlement in the region. When will Israel be sanctioned for illegal settlements in the Gaza and West Bank? Fair is fair.

Like (2)