,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gfde ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #bc1 #bjbf,mr4 ,casten 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,dean of ,pennsylvania1 ,ms4 ,escobar1 ,mr4 ,deluzio1 ,ms4 ,balint1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 ,mr4 ,khanna1 ,mr4 ,garamendi1 ,mr4 ,beyer1 ,ms4 ,tokuda1 ,mr4 ,doggett1 ,mrs4 ,foushee1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,california1 ,ms4 ,garcia of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,matsui1 ,mr4 ,tran1 ,ms4 ,randall1 ,mr4 ,huffman1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,mr4 ,carter of ,louisiana1 ,ms4 ,pingree1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,ms4 ,kaptur1 ,ms4 ,mc,collum1 and ,mr4 ,castro of ,texas7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to prohibit the use of ,united ,states-origin defense articles in the ,west ,bank and ,gaza unless certain conditions are met1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,ceasefire ,compliance ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,findings2 statement of policy 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,on ,october #g1 #bjbc1 ,hamas conducted a brutal and horrific attack against the people of ,israel1 killing more than #a1bjj people1 the vast majority of whom were civilians1 and took more than #bej individuals hostage4 7#b7 ,following the attack1 the ,united ,states assisted directly with the defense of ,israel1 including through defensive air capabilities1 weapons1 equipment1 and related assistance to counter and deter regional threats1 demonstrating the ,united ,states commitment to ,israel's security4 7#c7 ,hamas has been severely degraded militarily and currently lacks the ability to conduct a sustained attack against ,israel similar in scope to ,october #g1 but still maintains a presence in ,gaza and recruited new militants during the ,israel-,hamas war4 7#d7 ,the best path forward to make a weakened ,hamas no longer able to rule ,gaza or threaten ,israel is by replacing it with an alternative security and governance mechanism that benefits the civilians of ,gaza4 7#e7 ,israel's military operations in and policies toward ,gaza between ,october #bjbc and ,february #bjbf have killed over #gj1jjj ,palestinians1 a majority of whom were civilians1 and created an acute humanitarian crisis1 including famine in parts of the territory in #bjbe4 7#f7 ,the ,united ,states helped negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between ,israel and ,hamas on ,october #aj1 #bjbe1 that freed the remaining hostages1 provided much needed humanitarian aid to ,palestinians in ,gaza1 and laid the groundwork for a broader regional peace through a #bj-point plan4 7#g7 ,violence and instability in the ,west ,bank1 including settler violence1 acts of de facto annexation1 such as the establishment of illegal outposts and their retroactive legalization by the ,israeli government1 and broad threats of de jure annexation1 undermine the foreign policy objectives of the ,united ,states1 threaten to derail the ceasefire in ,gaza1 are detrimental to ,israel's security1 and harm prospects for broader regional peace and a future ,palestinian state4 7#h7 ,settler violence in the ,west ,bank directed against ,palestinians1 including attacks on civilians and property destruction1 reached record high levels in #bjbe4 7b7 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 to use all diplomatic tools to maintain the ,october #aj1 #bjbe1 ceasefire agreement and advance the steps outlined in the #bj-point plan to ensure security1 freedom1 and dignity for ,israelis and ,palestinians alike2 7#b7 to affirm that sustained compliance by ,hamas with the ,october #aj1 #bjbe1 ceasefire agreement is essential1 including by ceasing attacks1 rearmament1 and the rebuilding of military infrastructure1 agreeing to a plan for step-by-step disarmament and refraining from conduct that undermines the ceasefire2 7#c7 to support the ,united ,nations1 ceasefire mediators1 and the broader international community in fully implementing ,united ,nations ,security ,council ,resolution #bhjc1 and to oppose the use of the ,board of ,peace to undermine or replace the role of the ,united ,nations in maintaining international peace and security2 7#d7 to support an immediate and continued surge in humanitarian assistance1 provided by organizations that adhere to the core humanitarian principles of humanity1 impartiality1 neutrality1 and independence1 as well as to ensure sufficient access to aid within ,gaza to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the ,gaza ,strip2 7#e7 to help facilitate credible and transparent ,palestinian governance and security institutions in the ,gaza ,strip that can act as viable alternatives to ,hamas and lead to its disarmament2 7#f7 to bring about conditions for a viable negotiated two-state solution and preclude activities that harm such prospects1 including the permanent reoccupation of the ,gaza ,strip1 forced displacement of ,palestinian civilians from ,gaza1 annexation of the ,west ,bank1 or continued settler violence in the ,west ,bank2 7#g7 to help defend ,israel against credible threats of terrorism and military attacks1 including by mobilizing missile defense systems2 and 7#h7 to ensure ,united ,states-origin defense articles are used in compliance with ,united ,states law4 #c4 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act may be construed to prevent the ,united ,states from-- 7#a7 defending against an attack on the ,united ,states or its personnel or facilities in other countries2 7#b7 collecting1 analyzing1 or sharing intelligence1 including with ,israel and other countries as appropriate2 or 7#c7 assisting ,israel and other countries-- 7,a7 in taking defensive measures to protect their territory from terrorist and other external threats2 7,b7 in responding to contingencies that impact regional security or stability2 or 7,c7 by providing material for missile defense articles and systems1 including ,iron ,dome1 ,david's ,sling1 and ,arrow #c maintenance and resupply4 #d4 ,prohibition on sale1 export1 or transfer of ,united ,states-origin defense articles to ,israel and restriction on previously provided articles 7a7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every #ij days thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress and make publicly available a report that certifies that during the reporting period-- 7,a7 the ,government of ,israel has not engaged in military operations in the ,gaza ,strip in violation of the ceasefire agreed to on ,october #aj1 #bjbe2 7,b7 the ,government of ,israel has engaged constructively in negotiations to fully implement the #bj-point plan outlined in the ,october #aj agreement2 7,c7 the ,government of ,israel has ensured unimpeded humanitarian aid is being sent to and granted entry into the ,gaza ,strip1 in quantities sufficient to meet civilian humanitarian needs and at a minimum consistent with those of the ,january #ai1 #bjbe1 agreement1 including by-- 7i7 predictably allowing the range of necessary aid to enter1 including diversified1 nutrition-based foods2 medicines2 shelter2 and a combination of commercial goods as well as humanitarian assistance2 7ii7 granting necessary registrations1 visas1 and other permissions to ,n,g,os and entities able to provide aid without excessive burden2 7iii7 ensuring safe passage for aid workers through ,,idf controlled areas and continued deconfliction2 and 7iv7 allowing rehabilitation of infrastructure1 rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries1 and entry of necessary equipment to remove debris1 perform demining operations1 and open roads2 7,d7 the ,government of ,israel has ensured that-- 7i7 no civilians are forced to leave the ,gaza ,strip against their will2 7ii7 civilians who wish to leave the ,gaza ,strip are free to do so2 and 7iii7 civilians who have left since ,october #g1 #bjbc1 or will leave the ,gaza ,strip are free to return2 7,e7 the ,government of ,israel has ensured that there will be no permanent occupation or annexation of territory in the ,gaza ,strip2 7,f7 the ,government of ,israel has halted all aerial and artillery bombardment and withdrawn all ,israeli ,defense ,forces to the agreed-upon line1 and that battle lines continue to remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal1 in accordance with the ,united ,states #bj-point plan for ,gaza announced on ,september #bi1 #bjbe2 7,g7 the ,government of ,israel has taken verifiable steps to cooperate with ,arab and other international partners to allow a temporary transitional government in the ,gaza ,strip consisting of a technocratic1 ,palestinian committee1 responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in ,gaza and to ultimately ensure a pathway for a reformed ,palestinian ,authority to assume the governance of the ,gaza ,strip1 in accordance with the ,united ,states #bj-point plan for ,gaza announced on ,september #bi1 #bjbe2 7,h7 the ,government of ,israel has not served as an impediment to the establishment and deployment of a temporary ,international ,stabilization ,force that will train and provide support to ,palestinian police forces in the ,gaza ,strip1 which will become the long-term internal security solution in ,gaza1 in accordance with the ,united ,states #bj-point plan for ,gaza announced on ,september #bi1 #bjbe2 7,i7 the ,government of ,israel has committed and continues to ensure that there will be no de facto or de jure annexation of territory in the ,west ,bank2 and 7,j7 the ,government of ,israel has taken material steps to enforce the law in the ,west ,bank and prevent attacks by settlers on ,palestinians and has enforced procedures that prevent ,,idf troops from escorting and enabling settlers committing attacks4 7#b7 ,definition ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a77;,g71 the phrase has taken verifiable steps to cooperate with ,arab and other international partners and allow a temporary transitional government in the ,gaza ,strip consisting of a technocratic ,palestinian committee means that the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 determines and certifies that the ,government of ,israel has-- 7,a7 taken affirmative steps within its control to facilitate the deployment and functioning of such committee1 including through the issuance of necessary permits1 provision of safe passage1 and facilitation of the movement into and within the ,gaza ,strip of personnel1 equipment1 and financial resources necessary for the committee to perform its functions2 7,b7 refrained from actions that materially obstruct1 delay1 or undermine the establishment or operation of such committee1 including the arbitrary denial of access or the imposition of conditions inconsistent with the #bj-point plan described in paragraph 7#a77;,b72 and 7,c7 not directly or indirectly financed1 facilitated1 or enabled any person or organization1 including through intermediaries1 third-party pass-throughs1 or other covert or informal channels1 for the purpose of materially obstructing1 delaying1 undermining1 or sabotaging the ,october #aj1 #bjbe1 ceasefire1 the #bj-point plan1 or the establishment or operation of the transitional governance and security arrangements described in paragraphs 7#a77;,g7 and 7,h74 7b7 ,determination as basis for certification ,the certification in subsection 7a7 shall be based on an interagency assessment led by the ,secretary of ,state and conducted in coordination with the ,director of ,national ,intelligence and the ,secretary of ,defense regarding ,israel's progress toward meeting the conditions described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,j7 of subsection 7a77#a74 ,in preparing the certification1 the ,secretary of ,state shall consider all relevant information1 including intelligence reporting and credible public reporting4 7c7 ,form ,the reports required by subsection 7a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex4 7d7 ,prohibitions 7#a7 ,in general ,if the certification in subsection 7a7 concludes that the ,government of ,israel is in violation of any of the conditions described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,j7 of subsection 7a77#a7-- 7,a7 the ,united ,states shall not authorize or permit the sale1 export1 or transfer of any ,united ,states-origin defense articles to ,israel1 provided through any source or existing authority1 for end use in the ,west ,bank or ,gaza2 7,b7 the sale1 export1 or transfer of any defense article to ,israel shall only take place pursuant to a ,letter of ,offer and ,acceptance or export license that requires that the ,government of ,israel will not use such articles in the ,west ,bank or ,gaza2 and 7,c7 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 shall establish an agreement with the ,government of ,israel that any ,united ,states-origin defense articles sold1 exported1 or transferred to ,israel prior to the date of the submission of the certification described in subsection 7a7 are prohibited from being used in the ,west ,bank or ,gaza4 7#b7 ,sunset ,the prohibitions in paragraph 7#a7 shall remain in effect until a certification in subsection 7a7 concludes that ,israel has come into compliance with all conditions described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,j7 of subsection 7a77#a74 7e7 ,appropriate committees of congress defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,appropriations1 and the ,permanent ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,appropriations1 and the ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,senate4 #e4 ,end use monitoring group 7a7 ,establishment ,immediately after the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 shall take such steps as may be necessary to establish an end use monitoring group that shall serve to monitor whether ,united ,states-origin defense articles are being used in the ,west ,bank or ,gaza4 7b7 ,report ,during such time as the prohibitions described in section #d7;d7 are in force1 the end use monitoring group established by subsection 7a7 shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report every #fj days that certifies whether ,israel is using ,united ,states-origin defense articles in the ,west ,bank or ,gaza4 7c7 ,prohibition 7#a7 ,in general ,if the report in subsection 7b7 concludes that ,israel is using ,united ,states-origin defense articles in the ,west ,bank or ,gaza1 then the ,united ,states shall not authorize the sale1 export1 or transfer of any ,united ,states-origin defense articles to ,israel4 7#b7 ,waiver 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,president may waive the prohibition in paragraph 7#a7 for a specific sale1 export1 or transfer of defense articles to ,israel only if the ,president-- 7i7 determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such waiver is vital to the national security of the ,united ,states2 and 7ii7 not fewer than #ae days before authorizing such sale1 export1 or transfer1 submits such certification1 to-- 7,i7 the chair and ranking minority member of the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,,ii7 the chair and ranking minority member of the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,form ,a certification under this paragraph shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex1 and shall include-- 7i7 a detailed description of the nature1 quantity1 and estimated value of the defense articles to be transferred2 7ii7 a description of the specific national security interests of the ,united ,states that would be directly and materially advanced by the waiver2 and 7iii7 an explanation of why no feasible alternative to the waiver exists to achieve those interests4 7#c7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this subsection may be construed to limit the obligation or expenditure of any funds appropriated for air defense systems1 including ,iron ,dome1 ,david's ,sling1 and ,arrow #c systems4 7#d7 ,sunset ,the prohibition in paragraph 7#a7 shall remain in effect until a certification in subsection 7b7 concludes that ,israel is not using ,united ,states-origin defense articles in the ,west ,bank or ,gaza4 7d7 ,appropriate committees of congress defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 and the ,permanent ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 and the ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,senate4 #f4 ,rules of construction relating to the ,board of ,peace 7a7 ,limitation on administrative and operating support ,nothing in this ,act1 the ,october #aj1 #bjbe1 ceasefire agreement1 the #bj-point plan1 or any related framework may be construed to authorize the obligation or expenditure of funds by1 for1 or on behalf of the ,board of ,peace for its administrative expenses1 operating costs1 or personnel support1 or to authorize any ,federal department or agency to obligate or expend funds for such administrative expenses1 operating costs1 or personnel support1 except as expressly authorized by an ,act of ,congress and provided in advance in an appropriations ,act4 7b7 ,no displacement of the ,united ,nations or other authorities ,nothing in this ,act1 the ,october #aj1 #bjbe1 ceasefire agreement1 the #bj-point plan1 or any related framework may be construed to grant the ,board of ,peace authority that supersedes the role or authorities of the ,united ,nations under the ,charter of the ,united ,nations or otherwise supersedes any applicable provision of ,united ,states or international law4 7c7 ,preservation of assistance for ,gaza ,nothing in this ,act may be construed to limit the obligation or expenditure of funds for humanitarian assistance1 stabilization1 reconstruction1 or other assistance for ,gaza that is otherwise authorized by law and provided in an appropriations ,act4 #g4 ,termination ,the authorities provided by this ,act shall cease to have effect on the date that is #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4