HR 00 - AS INTRODUCED 

2025 SESSION

25-0000

00/00

HOUSE RESOLUTION 00

A RESOLUTION calling for peace in Gaza. 

SPONSORS: Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33;

COMMITTEE: State and Federal Relations 

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ANALYSIS

This resolution calls for peace in Gaza. 

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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

A RESOLUTION calling for peace in Gaza.

Remembering, the New Hampshire General Court has a long standing and principled history of standing up for peace in international humanitarian crises. 

Whereas, in the years since 7 October 2023 the enormity of the ongoing tragedy overwhelms all people of conscience deeply disturbed by the immense human suffering. 

Affirming, that civilians are protected under international humanitarian law and should receive humanitarian assistance wherever they are, and underlining the need to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians, in particular children, and their protection. 

Reiterating, the strict and clear regulations of International Law on the conduct of wars and self defense.

Stressing, that unlawful conduct by one party in an armed conflict does not justify unlawful conduct by the other party. Israel, the Palestinian authorities, and every nationstate in the world has a right to protect it’s citizens from violence; but in doing so must comply with international law.

Whereas, the United Nation’s Commission of Inquiry has investigated serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law since it’s formation in 2006 as mandated by the Human Rights Council, Security Council, and General Assembly of the United Nations. 

Whereas, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry found that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups are responsible for the war crimes of; intentionally directing attacks against civilians, murder or willful killing, torture, inhuman or cruel treatment, destroying or seizing an adversary’s property, and outrages upon personal dignity. Members of Hamas, and other Palestinian armed groups deliberately killed, injured, took hostages including children, and committed sexual and gender based violence against civilians and Israeli security forces. 

Whereas, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, signed 9 December 1948 at the Palais De Chaillot in Paris, France. Effective 12 January 1951 with 153 parties to the convention, including our Republic of these United States of America and the nation of Israel; outlines five criterium by which genocide can be defined. Those being: 

(a) Killing members of the group;

            (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about it’s physical destruction in whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. 

Whereas, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry has found that the Israeli authorities and security forces committed, and are continuing to commit the following underlying acts of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. As defined by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948. The acts committed, and continuing to be committed which prompted this result were:

(a) Killing members of the group. 

(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group 

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births in the group.

Further, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry reported in their September 2025 brief that on the specific intent of genocide, they concluded that statements made by Israeli authorities are evidence of genocidal intent. The commission also concluded that the pattern of conduct is circumstantial evidence for genocidal intent and that genocidal intent was the only reasonable inference that could be drawn from a totality of the evidence. Therefore the commission concluded that the Israeli authorities and Israeli leadership have the genocidal intent to destroy the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The commission found that the Israeli political and military leaders are agents of the State of Israel, and therefore their acts are attributable to the State of Israel. The commission therefore concluded that the State of Israel bears a responsibility for failure to prevent genocide, for the commission of genocide, and for the failure to punish genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. On the incitement of genocide, the commission has concluded that many Israeli leaders had incited the commission of genocide and that Israeli authorities have failed to take action against them to report this incitement.

Whereas, the September 2025 report compiled by the U.N. Commission of Inquiry is the result of two years of work beginning immediately succeeding 7 October 2023. Documenting more than sixteen thousand pieces of evidentiary material to date. 

Emphasizing, that as deemed by the same international investigatory bodies, the events in Gaza since 7 October 2023 have not occurred in isolation and were preceded by decades of repression under an ideology requiring the removal and replacement of the people in Gaza and the West Bank. The situation in the Gaza Strip has overshadowed that in the West Bank where Palestinian fatalities since 7 October have exceeded any other recorded period. This is linked to increasing remilitarized Israeli operations. A trend highlighted in the report highlighted in the report to the U.N. General Assembly in 2024. It is as well linked to a surge in violent settler attacks on Palestinian communities often condoned by Israeli authorities. 

Whereas, the blatant disregard for international law across the entire territory has disproportionally affected children. In Gaza, Israeli security forces have killed and maimed tens of thousands of children and thousands more likely remain under the rubble. Israeli attacks have severely impacted infrastructure essential for the wellbeing of children including hospitals schools and other basic services.

Magnifying, a quote from the Chair of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry Ms. Navi Pillay, a South African former U.N. human rights chief who was president of the international tribunal on Rwanda’s genocide: “The genocide convention was born out of humanities’ darkest chapters. Today we witness how the promise of ‘never again’ is broken and tested in the eyes of the world. The ongoing genocide in Gaza is a moral outrage and a legal emergency. Member states must act now.”

Whereas, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry recommends all member states, especially those with influence over Israel, to effect an immediate halt to the killing and harming of civilians in Gaza. To guarantee humanitarian access to Gaza and to prevent further destruction of life and suspend all arms, transfers, or financial assistance that could contribute to further genocidal acts.

Acknowledging, it is up to the international court system to determine a verdict on the question of genocide; and it is up to people of conscience to speak out where you see innocent life shed, not waiting for the legal definitions imposed by the slow turn of bureaucracy. 

Stressing, the sanctity of all life and reaffirming the eternal principles of these United States of America outlined in our Declaration of Independence; “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 

Therefore, be it resolved that the House of Representatives joins the one hundred and twenty-one nations, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens, and millions more worldwide; in calling all States, especially those with influence over Israel, to effect an immediate halt to the killing and harming of civilians in Gaza. To guarantee humanitarian access to Gaza and to prevent further destruction of life and suspend all arms, transfers, or financial assistance that could contribute to further unjust acts.