Whereas Israel is a strong ally and major strategic partner of the United States; Whereas Hamas is an Iranian terrorist proxy and in 1997 was designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization; Whereas Hamas is a genocidal organization that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel in its 1988 charter and seeks to harm Israeli citizens; Whereas, since Hamas was founded in 1987, its terrorists have repeatedly carried out lethal attacks in Israel and, since seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, have repeatedly attacked Israel with rocket fire; Whereas, since taking control of the Gaza Strip, Hamas has diverted vast amounts of resources from intended peaceful purposes to develop an extensive military capability; Whereas these efforts have transformed Gaza into an elaborate fortress designed to attack Israel; Whereas these attacks have consistently been timed and calculated to undermine any positive momentum in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations; Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel in an unprovoked act of war; Whereas Hamas’ unlawful act of aggression against Israel on October 7 included the barbaric and illegal slaughter of over 1,200 civilians from more than 25 nations, including at least 30 United States citizens; Whereas Hamas accomplished this by launching a coordinated attack and began slaughtering Israelis and abducting hostages in towns in southern Israel, including children and the elderly; Whereas Hamas poses a serious and continuous threat to the safety and security of the State of Israel and its citizens; Whereas Hamas has promised to repeat October 7-style massacres again and again , promising there will be more attempts until Israel is annihilated ; Whereas Hamas attacks are categorically unlawful and intended to kill or injure civilians; Whereas over 130 hostages, including up to 8 Americans, continue to be unlawfully detained by Hamas in inhumane conditions in Gaza