H.R.1136 The Make Gaza Great Again Act.
H.R.1136 was introduced on February 7, 2025 by REP Ogles (R-TN). It is currently pending before the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary, and has no cosponsors.
Related legislation: None
Bill Summary: H.R.1136 would authorize the President to impose severe sanctions on any official of a foreign government other than Israel who denies the relocation of Palestinians
Context: Since President Trump announced that the U.S. would be “taking ownership” of Gaza, there has been continued reporting that the U.S. is seeking to forcibly deport (i.e. ethnically cleanse) Palestinians in Gaza to other countries/territories, including Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland. This Bill would impose sanctions under IEEPA on any foreign government representative refusing to accept such deportations, and would authorize the President to strip Major Non-Nato Ally status as well as U.S. security assistance funding from any country refusing to accept such deportees. Of note, the Bill specifically exempts Israel, which has repeatedly denied humanitarian entry of Palestinians for medical treatment, from these conditions. The Bill would require reporting to Congress of all refusals to admit Palestinians, and includes a national security waiver that must be renewed every 120 days.
American Values Analysis: This Bill endorses and facilitates ethnic cleansing, which is clearly in violation of basic American values including self-determination, liberty, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness.
American Interest Analysis: This Bill, if enacted, would require the President to sanction foreign government officials, including of allied nations, and would authorize the President to downgrade the bilateral relationship with key partners. The Bill would also, of course, further embed the United States in the process of the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, gutting U.S. credibility and moral leadership around the world while forcing Palestinians from Gaza into the middle of a civil war and US recognized genocide in Sudan. This bill would be singularly damaging to American diplomacy, relationships, credibility, and the national interest.
A New Policy’s Recommendation: OPPOSE
A New Policy opposes H.R. 1136 because it would be deeply damaging to the diplomatic relations of the United States, harm our global credibility, and further implicate the United States in ethnic cleansing, a violation of international law.
For more information please contact: Josh Paul, (202) 770-0055, info@anewpolicy.org
