The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social Justice and International Policy presented its Report #13 on Resolution D027 (Pursuing Justice in Gaza) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D027)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the General Convention directs the Office of Government Relations, using the powers at its disposal, to press Congress and the State Department to reinstate the full funding commitment of the US government to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for the 1.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the additional 3.5 million trapped for 70 years in refugee camps in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention condemns the calculated use of live fire by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on civilians in Gaza, during full-scale Israeli military assaults as well as lethal sniper and drone attacks on Palestinians engaging in nonviolent demonstrations. In light of Israel's escalating indifference to international law and the rights of civilians under the Geneva Convention and other treaties, the Convention calls on the Congress and President of the United States to cooperate with calls by the United Nations for independent, transparent investigations into IDF shoot-to-kill policies against unarmed civilians. If information of human rights violations by Israeli military units is corroborated, the Convention stresses the obligation of the US government to enforce the Leahy Amendment, a statute which prohibits the U.S. from providing funds to foreign military units where human rights violations have been credibly identified.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the General Convention directs the Office of Government Relations, using the powers at its disposal, to press Congress and the State Department to reinstate the full funding commitment of the US government to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for the 1.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the additional 3.5 million trapped for 70 years in refugee camps in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the Convention condemns the calculated use of live fire by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on civilians in Gaza, during full-scale Israeli military assaults as well as lethal sniper and drone attacks on Palestinians engaging in nonviolent demonstrations. Iin light of Israel's escalating indifference to international law and the rights of civilians under the Geneva Convention and other treaties, the Convention calls on the Congress and President of the United States to cooperate with calls by the United Nations for independent, transparent investigations into IDF shoot-to-kill policies against unarmed civilians.I the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians by the Israeli Defense Force, as well as by Palestinian forces; and be it further

Resolved, That Ifif information of human rights violations by Israeli military units forces is corroborated, the Convention stress the obligation of the US government to enforce the Leahy Amendment, a statute which prohibits the USA from providing funds to foreign military units wherewhen human rights violations have been credibly identified; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention urge both Israeli and Palestinian governments to engage in non-violent methods of conflict resolution, using justice-seeking non-governmental groups in Israel-Palestine and beyond.

Deputy Bell of Maryland requested a moment of prayer prior to the vote. The President called on the Chaplain for prayers.

A vote was taken on Resolution D027.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #301)