Wilson, Gallego, Lamborn, Schneider, Bacon, Moulton Introduce United States-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation Enhancement Act
Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduced the bipartisan United States-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation Enhancement Act. The bill provides $80 million a year to scale up essential U.S.-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation to ensure the United States and our ally Israel have the best technology and tools available to detect, destroy and maneuver through terror tunnels ensuring we can defeat our adversaries.
“As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, I am grateful to introduce this vital bipartisan legislation with my pro-Israel colleagues to scale up U.S.-Israel anti-tunneling cooperation. Every day, the IDF is uncovering more and more of Hamas' labyrinth of tunnels, where the terrorists not only hide, but manufacture weapons, launch missiles, and hold hostages. Increased funding will go towards the development of new technologies to maneuver and support Israel’s security needs and the ultimate defeat of the terror tunnels. This bill sends a strong message that the U.S. will always stand with Israel,” said Rep. Wilson.
“Bolstering anti-tunnel technology is not just good for Israel, it’s also good for the U.S.—strengthening our national security and allowing local law enforcement to combat cartel smuggling along Arizona’s border. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to ensure our allies have the resources needed to combat terrorist groups like Hamas and keep Americans and Israelis safe,” said Rep. Gallego.
“I am pleased to co-lead the introduction of the United States-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation Act, securing critical defense needs for both our nation and Israel,” said Rep. Lamborn. “Terror groups, such as Hamas, have consistently used tunnels to commit atrocities against the Israeli people, as evidenced during the October 7th attacks. Through this legislation, our nations will enhance current detection efforts in neutralizing any and all terrorist threats.”
“I'm proud to have advocated for many years for significant U.S. investment with Israel in countering tunnel systems used by terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The necessity for expanding this program was clearly and tragically demonstrated by the barbaric Hamas attacks of October 7. Continuing our joint development of advanced anti-tunnel technologies and strategies with Israel will not only help protect our closest ally in the Middle East, it will also help keep Americans more secure here at home, and help support other allies across the world. I am pleased to join my colleagues in working together to push through this crucial bipartisan priority,” said Rep. Schneider
“Detecting these tunnels is paramount not only to developing defensive strategies for Israel and combatting terrorist organizations like Hamas, but the United States can also employ these same initiatives to protect our nation’s borders,” said Rep. Bacon. “Just like Hamas uses their 350-450 miles of tunnels to try and infiltrate Israel and to hide and move their hostages, Mexican cartels have also used tunnels to traffic humans and drugs across, or rather under the borders. This bill will ramp up this cooperation so we can defeat those who seek to undermine us.”
“Today, terrorist groups like Hamas too easily have the ability to create vast networks of tunnels from which they can safely plan and launch attacks -- and hide hostages. These tunnel networks also allow terrorists to use the innocent civilians aboveground as human shields. It's critical to our national security that we work with our allies and partners to develop better technology to detect and destroy dangerous tunnel networks. This is important not just in Israel, but in hotspots around the world,” said Rep. Moulton
Background:
For almost a decade, the United States and Israel have jointly developed anti-tunnel technology to address the complex challenges of locating, mapping, destroying, and maneuvering through attack tunnels. Since October 7, 2023, over 1,500 new terror tunnel shafts built under hospitals, schools, and homes in Gaza have been discovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This massive terror infrastructure includes 350 to 450 miles of tunnels, with over 5,700 entrance points. Today, over one hundred hostages abducted by Hamas, including 5 American citizens, remain captive and hidden in these tunnels. America faces similar subterranean threats on the Korean Peninsula, the Southern border and in various locations in the Middle East. Through this program, Israel shares its counter-tunnel technology with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security who work to advance this technology further – enhancing our own ability to deal with this growing threat around the world and at our border.
The bill is available here.
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