Bill Summary
The "Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026" is legislation designed to regulate the use of U.S.-origin defense articles in the West Bank and Gaza, contingent on Israel's adherence to specific conditions related to military operations and humanitarian efforts. Triggered by the escalation of violence following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which prompted U.S. military support for Israel, the Act seeks to balance Israel's security needs with the promotion of peace and humanitarian relief in the region.
Key provisions of the Act require the Secretary of State, alongside the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, to report every 90 days on Israel's compliance with conditions that include maintaining a ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian aid, preventing civilian displacement, and cooperating with international partners to establish Palestinian governance. Non-compliance will result in a suspension of U.S. defense transfers to Israel for use in the affected areas.
Additionally, the Act establishes an end-use monitoring group to ensure that U.S. defense articles are not misused in the West Bank or Gaza, with strict reporting requirements and the possibility of presidential waivers for national security reasons. The Act also clarifies the operational limitations of the Board of Peace and ensures that it does not undermine the role of international organizations like the United Nations, while preserving funding for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Overall, the legislation aims to promote a stable and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while addressing urgent humanitarian needs.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how people will be affected by the "Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026":
1. **Impact on Israeli Military Operations**: Israeli military personnel and policymakers will be directly affected by the legislation’s conditions, as it mandates a halt to military operations in Gaza that violate ceasefire agreements. This means that any ongoing or future military actions will need to comply with the specified conditions, which could limit Israel's operational freedom in the region and necessitate a shift towards more diplomatic solutions and negotiation efforts.
2. **Humanitarian Aid Access for Gazans**: Civilians in Gaza will benefit from the provisions aimed at ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid into the region. This legislation requires Israel to facilitate the entry of necessary supplies and aid, allowing NGOs to operate more effectively. Consequently, individuals and families in Gaza may experience improved access to essential resources, healthcare, and support, alleviating some of the humanitarian crises exacerbated by military conflict.
3. **Oversight and Accountability for U.S. Defense Support**: The legislation creates a framework for monitoring the use of U.S.-origin defense articles in Israel, directly impacting the relationship between the U.S. government and its defense contractors as well as Israeli defense forces. If Israel is found to be in violation of the conditions set forth, the U.S. will halt the transfer of defense articles, affecting defense contractors, military operations, and, ultimately, the security dynamics in the region. This heightened scrutiny may influence military planning and reliance on U.S. defense support.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7645 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7645
To prohibit the use of United States-origin defense articles in the
West Bank and Gaza unless certain conditions are met, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 23, 2026
Mr. Casten (for himself, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. Escobar, Mr.
Deluzio, Ms. Balint, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Khanna, Mr.
Garamendi, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Doggett, Mrs. Foushee, Mr.
Thompson of California, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Tran, Ms.
Randall, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Takano, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Ms. Pingree,
Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. McCollum, and Mr. Castro of Texas)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of United States-origin defense articles in the
West Bank and Gaza unless certain conditions are met, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On October 7, 2023, Hamas conducted a brutal and
horrific attack against the people of Israel, killing more than
1,200 people, the vast majority of whom were civilians, and
took more than 250 individuals hostage.
(2) Following the attack, the United States assisted
directly with the defense of Israel, including through
defensive air capabilities, weapons, equipment, and related
assistance to counter and deter regional threats, demonstrating
the United States commitment to Israel's security.
(3) Hamas has been severely degraded militarily and
currently lacks the ability to conduct a sustained attack
against Israel similar in scope to October 7, but still
maintains a presence in Gaza and recruited new militants during
the Israel-Hamas war.
(4) The best path forward to make a weakened Hamas no
longer able to rule Gaza or threaten Israel is by replacing it
with an alternative security and governance mechanism that
benefits the civilians of Gaza.
(5) Israel's military operations in and policies toward
Gaza between October 2023 and February 2026 have killed over
70,000 Palestinians, a majority of whom were civilians, and
created an acute humanitarian crisis, including famine in parts
of the territory in 2025.
(6) The United States helped negotiate a ceasefire and
hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas on October
10, 2025, that freed the remaining hostages, provided much
needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, and laid the
groundwork for a broader regional peace through a 20-point
plan.
(7) Violence and instability in the West Bank, including
settler violence, acts of de facto annexation, such as the
establishment of illegal outposts and their retroactive
legalization by the Israeli government, and broad threats of de
jure annexation, undermine the foreign policy objectives of the
United States, threaten to derail the ceasefire in Gaza, are
detrimental to Israel's security, and harm prospects for
broader regional peace and a future Palestinian state.
(8) Settler violence in the West Bank directed against
Palestinians, including attacks on civilians and property
destruction, reached record high levels in 2025.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to use all diplomatic tools to maintain the October 10,
2025, ceasefire agreement and advance the steps outlined in the
20-point plan to ensure security, freedom, and dignity for
Israelis and Palestinians alike;
(2) to affirm that sustained compliance by Hamas with the
October 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement is essential, including
by ceasing attacks, rearmament, and the rebuilding of military
infrastructure, agreeing to a plan for step-by-step disarmament
and refraining from conduct that undermines the ceasefire;
(3) to support the United Nations, ceasefire mediators, and
the broader international community in fully implementing
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, and to oppose
the use of the Board of Peace to undermine or replace the role
of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and
security;
(4) to support an immediate and continued surge in
humanitarian assistance, provided by organizations that adhere
to the core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality,
neutrality, and independence, as well as to ensure sufficient
access to aid within Gaza to alleviate the humanitarian crisis
in the Gaza Strip;
(5) to help facilitate credible and transparent Palestinian
governance and security institutions in the Gaza Strip that can
act as viable alternatives to Hamas and lead to its
disarmament;
(6) to bring about conditions for a viable negotiated two-
state solution and preclude activities that harm such
prospects, including the permanent reoccupation of the Gaza
Strip, forced displacement of Palestinian civilians from Gaza,
annexation of the West Bank, or continued settler violence in
the West Bank;
(7) to help defend Israel against credible threats of
terrorism and military attacks, including by mobilizing missile
defense systems; and
(8) to ensure United States-origin defense articles are
used in compliance with United States law.
SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to prevent the United States
from--
(1) defending against an attack on the United States or its
personnel or facilities in other countries;
(2) collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence,
including with Israel and other countries as appropriate; or
(3) assisting Israel and other countries--
(A) in taking defensive measures to protect their
territory from terrorist and other external threats;
(B) in responding to contingencies that impact
regional security or stability; or
(C) by providing material for missile defense
articles and systems, including Iron Dome, David's
Sling, and Arrow 3 maintenance and resupply.
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON SALE, EXPORT, OR TRANSFER OF UNITED STATES-
ORIGIN DEFENSE ARTICLES TO ISRAEL AND RESTRICTION ON
PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED ARTICLES.
(a) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of
Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress and make publicly
available a report that certifies that during the reporting
period--
(A) the Government of Israel has not engaged in
military operations in the Gaza Strip in violation of
the ceasefire agreed to on October 10, 2025;
(B) the Government of Israel has engaged
constructively in negotiations to fully implement the
20-point plan outlined in the October 10 agreement;
(C) the Government of Israel has ensured unimpeded
humanitarian aid is being sent to and granted entry
into the Gaza Strip, in quantities sufficient to meet
civilian humanitarian needs and at a minimum consistent
with those of the January 19, 2025, agreement,
including by--
(i) predictably allowing the range of
necessary aid to enter, including diversified,
nutrition-based foods; medicines; shelter; and
a combination of commercial goods as well as
humanitarian assistance;
(ii) granting necessary registrations,
visas, and other permissions to NGOs and
entities able to provide aid without excessive
burden;
(iii) ensuring safe passage for aid workers
through IDF controlled areas and continued
deconfliction; and
(iv) allowing rehabilitation of
infrastructure, rehabilitation of hospitals and
bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to
remove debris, perform demining operations, and
open roads;
(D) the Government of Israel has ensured that--
(i) no civilians are forced to leave the
Gaza Strip against their will;
(ii) civilians who wish to leave the Gaza
Strip are free to do so; and
(iii) civilians who have left since October
7, 2023, or will leave the Gaza Strip are free
to return;
(E) the Government of Israel has ensured that there
will be no permanent occupation or annexation of
territory in the Gaza Strip;
(F) the Government of Israel has halted all aerial
and artillery bombardment and withdrawn all Israeli
Defense Forces to the agreed-upon line, and that battle
lines continue to remain frozen until conditions are
met for the complete staged withdrawal, in accordance
with the United States 20-point plan for Gaza announced
on September 29, 2025;
(G) the Government of Israel has taken verifiable
steps to cooperate with Arab and other international
partners to allow a temporary transitional government
in the Gaza Strip consisting of a technocratic,
Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the
day-to-day running of public services and
municipalities for the people in Gaza and to ultimately
ensure a pathway for a reformed Palestinian Authority
to assume the governance of the Gaza Strip, in
accordance with the United States 20-point plan for
Gaza announced on September 29, 2025;
(H) the Government of Israel has not served as an
impediment to the establishment and deployment of a
temporary International Stabilization Force that will
train and provide support to Palestinian police forces
in the Gaza Strip, which will become the long-term
internal security solution in Gaza, in accordance with
the United States 20-point plan for Gaza announced on
September 29, 2025;
(I) the Government of Israel has committed and
continues to ensure that there will be no de facto or
de jure annexation of territory in the West Bank; and
(J) the Government of Israel has taken material
steps to enforce the law in the West Bank and prevent
attacks by settlers on Palestinians and has enforced
procedures that prevent IDF troops from escorting and
enabling settlers committing attacks.
(2) Definition.--For purposes of paragraph (1)(G), the
phrase ``has taken verifiable steps to cooperate with Arab and
other international partners and allow a temporary transitional
government in the Gaza Strip consisting of a technocratic
Palestinian committee'' means that the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of
National Intelligence, determines and certifies that the
Government of Israel has--
(A) taken affirmative steps within its control to
facilitate the deployment and functioning of such
committee, including through the issuance of necessary
permits, provision of safe passage, and facilitation of
the movement into and within the Gaza Strip of
personnel, equipment, and financial resources necessary
for the committee to perform its functions;
(B) refrained from actions that materially
obstruct, delay, or undermine the establishment or
operation of such committee, including the arbitrary
denial of access or the imposition of conditions
inconsistent with the 20-point plan described in
paragraph (1)(B); and
(C) not directly or indirectly financed,
facilitated, or enabled any person or organization,
including through intermediaries, third-party pass-
throughs, or other covert or informal channels, for the
purpose of materially obstructing, delaying,
undermining, or sabotaging the October 10, 2025,
ceasefire, the 20-point plan, or the establishment or
operation of the transitional governance and security
arrangements described in paragraphs (1)(G) and (H).
(b) Determination as Basis for Certification.--The certification in
subsection (a) shall be based on an interagency assessment led by the
Secretary of State and conducted in coordination with the Director of
National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense regarding Israel's
progress toward meeting the conditions described in subparagraphs (A)
through (J) of subsection (a)(1). In preparing the certification, the
Secretary of State shall consider all relevant information, including
intelligence reporting and credible public reporting.
(c) Form.--The reports required by subsection (a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
(d) Prohibitions.--
(1) In general.--If the certification in subsection (a)
concludes that the Government of Israel is in violation of any
of the conditions described in subparagraphs (A) through (J) of
subsection (a)(1)--
(A) the United States shall not authorize or permit
the sale, export, or transfer of any United States-
origin defense articles to Israel, provided through any
source or existing authority, for end use in the West
Bank or Gaza;
(B) the sale, export, or transfer of any defense
article to Israel shall only take place pursuant to a
Letter of Offer and Acceptance or export license that
requires that the Government of Israel will not use
such articles in the West Bank or Gaza; and
(C) the Secretary of State, in coordination with
the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National
Intelligence, shall establish an agreement with the
Government of Israel that any United States-origin
defense articles sold, exported, or transferred to
Israel prior to the date of the submission of the
certification described in subsection (a) are
prohibited from being used in the West Bank or Gaza.
(2) Sunset.--The prohibitions in paragraph (1) shall remain
in effect until a certification in subsection (a) concludes
that Israel has come into compliance with all conditions
described in subparagraphs (A) through (J) of subsection
(a)(1).
(e) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
SEC. 5. END USE MONITORING GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--Immediately after the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense
and the Director of National Intelligence, shall take such steps as may
be necessary to establish an end use monitoring group that shall serve
to monitor whether United States-origin defense articles are being used
in the West Bank or Gaza.
(b) Report.--During such time as the prohibitions described in
section 4(d) are in force, the end use monitoring group established by
subsection (a) shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report every 60 days that certifies whether Israel is using United
States-origin defense articles in the West Bank or Gaza.
(c) Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--If the report in subsection (b) concludes
that Israel is using United States-origin defense articles in
the West Bank or Gaza, then the United States shall not
authorize the sale, export, or transfer of any United States-
origin defense articles to Israel.
(2) Waiver.--
(A) In general.--The President may waive the
prohibition in paragraph (1) for a specific sale,
export, or transfer of defense articles to Israel only
if the President--
(i) determines and certifies to the
appropriate congressional committees that such
waiver is vital to the national security of the
United States; and
(ii) not fewer than 15 days before
authorizing such sale, export, or transfer,
submits such certification, to--
(I) the chair and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(II) the chair and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate.
(B) Form.--A certification under this paragraph
shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain
a classified annex, and shall include--
(i) a detailed description of the nature,
quantity, and estimated value of the defense
articles to be transferred;
(ii) a description of the specific national
security interests of the United States that
would be directly and materially advanced by
the waiver; and
(iii) an explanation of why no feasible
alternative to the waiver exists to achieve
those interests.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may
be construed to limit the obligation or expenditure of any
funds appropriated for air defense systems, including Iron
Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow 3 systems.
(4) Sunset.--The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall remain
in effect until a certification in subsection (b) concludes
that Israel is not using United States-origin defense articles
in the West Bank or Gaza.
(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate.
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION RELATING TO THE BOARD OF PEACE.
(a) Limitation on Administrative and Operating Support.--Nothing in
this Act, the October 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement, the 20-point plan,
or any related framework may be construed to authorize the obligation
or expenditure of funds by, for, or on behalf of the Board of Peace for
its administrative expenses, operating costs, or personnel support, or
to authorize any Federal department or agency to obligate or expend
funds for such administrative expenses, operating costs, or personnel
support, except as expressly authorized by an Act of Congress and
provided in advance in an appropriations Act.
(b) No Displacement of the United Nations or Other Authorities.--
Nothing in this Act, the October 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement, the 20-
point plan, or any related framework may be construed to grant the
Board of Peace authority that supersedes the role or authorities of the
United Nations under the Charter of the United Nations or otherwise
supersedes any applicable provision of United States or international
law.
(c) Preservation of Assistance for Gaza.--Nothing in this Act may
be construed to limit the obligation or expenditure of funds for
humanitarian assistance, stabilization, reconstruction, or other
assistance for Gaza that is otherwise authorized by law and provided in
an appropriations Act.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION.
The authorities provided by this Act shall cease to have effect on
the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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