Washington, D.C. — Today, Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the United States-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation Act.
The bill authorizes a $30 million increase in funding to expand Department of Defense efforts, in collaboration with the Israeli Defense Forces, to detect, maneuver through, and destroy tunnels constructed by Hamas and other terrorist organizations under the Gaza Strip and near the Israeli border.
Sen. Budd said in a statement:
“The United States must fully support Israel as they increase military pressure on Hamas. Through tunnels under Gaza, Hamas smuggles weapons and hides hostages. The development of anti-tunneling technology is crucial for Israel to defend itself and rescue innocent civilians being held by terrorists. I’m proud to lead bipartisan legislation to help Israel combat these threats as well as to develop technology for our own future use.”
Sen. Peters said:
“These tunnels continue to empower Hamas’ brutal attacks on Israeli soldiers and innocent civilians, and we must continue to stand with the Israeli people as they defend themselves. This funding would help scale up Israel’s defense against Hamas and advance development of anti-tunneling technology needed to combat growing threats around the world, including along our own borders.”
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