{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2011", "Sen. Cruz: Congress Stands with Israel Against Hamas", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Senate resolution co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, to condemn the use of civilians as human shields by the terrorist group, Hamas.   \u00a0  \u201cThis week Republicans and Democrats from both the House and Senate have sent an unequivocal message to the world: we uphold Israel\u2019s right to self-defense and condemn Hamas\u2019 barbaric use of civilians as human shields. It is unconscionable that Israel, which goes to extraordinary lengths to prevent civilian casualties, is singled out for condemnation by the United Nations while Hamas\u2019 vicious, cruel actions are ignored,\u201d said Sen. Cruz.  \u00a0  \u201cI thank my colleagues in both chambers for their support of Israel, and I hope that leaders around the world will unite with Congress and denounce Hamas\u2019 acts of terror.\u201d  \u00a0  Sen. Cruz's resolution:\n \nStrongly condemns the use of innocent civilians as human shields;\nCalls on the international community to recognize and condemn Hamas\u2019 use of human shields;\nPlaces responsibility for the rocket attacks against Israel on Hamas and other terrorist organizations, such as Palestine Islamic Jihad;\nSupports the sovereign right of the Government of Israel to defend its territory and its citizens from Hamas\u2019 rocket attacks, kidnapping attempts and the use of tunnels and other means to carry out attacks against Israel;\nExpresses condolences to the families of the innocent victims on both sides of the conflict;\nSupports Palestinian civilians who reject Hamas and all forms of terrorism and violence, desiring to live in peace with their Israeli neighbors;\nSupports efforts to demilitarize the Gaza Strip, removing Hamas\u2019 means to target Israel, including its use of tunnels, rockets, and other means; and\nCondemns the United Nations Human Rights Council\u2019s biased resolution establishing a commission of inquiry into Israel\u2019s Gaza operations.\n \n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2011"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.002660021185875, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}