Whereas there have been 5 rounds of fighting between Israel and Hamas in the last 15 years; Whereas the current round of conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, a terrorist organization, unleashed a brutal attack against Israel, killing some 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, and taking more than 200 hostages; Whereas United States citizens were among those killed and abducted by Hamas; Whereas the Senate has unanimously reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism and respond against the perpetrators of the October 7, 2023, attack; Whereas Israel has conducted retaliatory military operations against targets in Gaza since October 7, 2023, relying heavily on the use of airstrikes and artillery bombardment; Whereas, as of December 14, 2023, nearly 19,000 people have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded in the Israeli counteroffensive in Gaza since October 7, 2023; Whereas 70 percent of those killed in Gaza are reported to be women and children; Whereas the United Nations, World Health Organization, human rights monitors, outside academic studies, the Government of Israel, and United States officials find these figures to be broadly reliable; Whereas the United Nations, United States officials, and outside experts believe the current death toll is likely higher, with thousands of bodies trapped beneath the rubble in Gaza; Whereas 135 United Nations aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023; Whereas nearly 1,900,000 people, more than 85 percent of the population, have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023; Whereas, on November 24, 2023, the United Nations reported that across the Gaza Strip, over 234,000 housing units have been damaged and more than 46,000 homes have been completely destroyed, amounting to over 60 [percent] of the total housing stock ; Whereas 43 United Nations facilities have sustained direct hits, 60 United Nations installations have sustained collateral damage, and 11 bakeries have been destroyed in the bombardment