Representatives Ami Bera, Jason Crow, Mike Waltz, and Austin Scott introduced the 7 October Hamas Attack Evaluation and Intelligence Sharing Act.
This bipartisan legislation mandates a comprehensive report on Hamas' attack on Israel, including an analysis of their planning, training, and an examination of whether other actors are responsible for supporting Hamas terrorists in their activities leading up to the attack.
The bill would additionally scrutinize the US intelligence sharing relationship with Israel to assess how enhanced sharing can bolster national security, aid Israel's endeavors to minimize civilian harm, enhance the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and mitigate damage to civilian infrastructure.
“We need a comprehensive understanding of the means and methods in which Hamas was able to carry out its heinous terrorist attack against Israel on October 7. This bipartisan bill requires an assessment of the training, weaponry sources, and foreign support for Hamas in order to understand the intelligence failure on October 7 and to prevent future attacks,” said Congressman Ami Bera.
“As our ally Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas, it must do everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. We must improve intelligence sharing between our two countries to mitigate civilian harm, continue our work to free hostages, and improve the safe delivery of humanitarian aid,” he added.
The legislation declares that Congress, in alignment with the Administration, unequivocally condemns the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023. Emphasizing the prioritization of the safety and return of United States citizens held hostage, the legislation underscores the United States' support for Israel's right to self-defense.
The bill also states that within 30 days of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is required to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees. The report will specifically address the training of Hamas militants for the attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, and any material support provided to these militants.
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