; 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; Whereas Hamas frequently uses civilian populations as human shields to inevitably cause incidental death and injury to Gazan civilians; Whereas Hamas uses Gazan civilians not only to shield its operatives, but in the hopes of casualties being inflicted in order to advance its international disinformation campaign against Israel; Whereas this attack and threat of ongoing violence compelled Israel to evacuate residents from their homes in Gaza; Whereas Hamas deliberately causes collateral damage to property by placing their weapons stockpiles, launchpads, and headquarters in or under residential buildings, schools, mosques, and hospitals; Whereas South Africa brought a case against Israel on December 29, 2023, before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the Genocide Convention; Whereas accusing the State of Israel of committing and inciting genocide against Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip was based on a distorted invocation of selective facts; Whereas, on January 26, 2024, the ICJ rejected Israel’s assertion that the Court lacked jurisdiction due to the absence of a genuine dispute and Israel’s lack of a chance to respond, and the Court issued an order with six provisional measures including requiring Israel to submit a report to the ICJ on all measures Israel takes to abide by the order of the ICJ; and Whereas the decision imposing these provisional measures failed to credibly consider Israel’s inherent right to self-defense against the armed attack by Hamas or the gravity of the international law violations committed by Hamas: Now, therefore, be it