H.R.7645 - The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026
H.R.7645 was introduced on February 23, 2026 by Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-6). It is currently pending before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has 25 co-sponsors on a partyline basis.
Related legislation: N/A
Bill Summary: The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 utilizes congressional oversight to enforce the October 2025 ceasefire, expand humanitarian assistance to Gaza, facilitate credible Palestinian governance institutions, and advance conditions for a viable two-state solution by holding Israel’s ability to deploy U.S.-origin defense articles in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as leverage. The bill conditions U.S. security assistance to Israel and restricts the authorization, approval, sale, export, transfer, or permitting of U.S.-origin defense articles for use in the West Bank and Gaza. H.R.7645 opposes the use of the Board of Peace to undermine or replace the United Nations in peace building. establishes enhanced reporting and certification requirements for the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, drawing on interagency assessments and credible public reporting.
The legislation requires regular certification to ensure that Israel is complying with the ceasefire and the 20-point plan; guaranteeing unimpeded humanitarian access; preventing forced displacement; refraining from “permanent” occupation or annexation in Gaza; halting aerial and artillery bombardment; cooperating with international partners to enable transitional governance and security arrangements; not impeding an international stabilization force; preventing annexation of the West Bank and Gaza; and enforcing the law against settler violence. If certifications find noncompliance, the bill prohibits non-missile-defense arms transfers for use in the West Bank and Gaza. It also establishes an end-use monitoring group to assess compliance and requires regular reporting to Congress. However, The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 includes a national security waiver, which risks undermining the bill’s enforcement and accountability mechanisms.
Context: The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 constitutes the first serious effort introduced by “centrist” Democrats in Congress aimed at addressing Israel’s repeated violations of the Gaza ceasefire, its withholding of aid, and its ongoing attacks against Palestinians in Gaza. It is also the first such Bill from the Democratic “center” to explicitly condition the provision of arms to Israel on its behavior in these regards. This Bill would also address the use of previously-authorized arms transfers, an important aspect given Israel’s current buying spree from the U.S. from which deliveries are expected to run for years. The Bill follows the introduction of H.R.3565, “Block the Bombs,” and should be considered in addition to that Bill, which A New Policy also supports.
Since the October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was signed, Israel has reportedly committed 1,244 violations, resulting in the deaths of 449 people, including children, and injuring 1,246 others. These violations include at least 195 incidents involving the demolition of homes and civilian buildings. In response, The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 seeks to condition U.S. assistance involving military assistance to Israel and assert congressional oversight over the executive branch to ensure compliance with Israel’s obligations under the 20-point plan and to prevent the outbreak of another war in Gaza stemming from continued IDF strikes. The bill further establishes that the Israeli government’s push for rapid settlement expansion and de facto annexation in the West Bank, including IDF support for settler violence, would result in the loss of access to U.S. military assistance. While Gaza has understandably received the majority of media attention, conditions in the West Bank are rapidly deteriorating, as Israeli authorities expand illegal settlements and forcibly displace Palestinian civilians in ways that undermine basic human rights and prospects for Palestinian self-determination. The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 addresses these risks by leveraging U.S. influence and security assistance to ensure that American military assistance is not used to harm civilians or facilitate de facto or de jure annexation in Gaza or the West Bank.
American Values Analysis: The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 is in line with American values of ensuring that American made weapons and security assistance are not used to harm civilians or result in the annexation and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank or Gaza.
American Interest Analysis: The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 advances American interests by conditioning aid to support the October ceasefire, prevent renewed conflict, and promote a policy framework aimed towards eventual Palestinian self-determination. It focuses congressional oversight on the party whose conduct can be influenced through U.S. law, funding, and policy.
A New Policy’s Recommendation: SUPPORT with Amendment
A New Policy supports The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 as it establishes clear standards, concretely linked to the provision of U.S. arms, to protect civilians, ensure unimpeded humanitarian access for NGOs operating in Gaza, and conditions U.S. military assistance to promote compliance with the October 2025 ceasefire, prevents obstruction of aid, and prohibits escalation by Israel. It further restricts the use of U.S. military assistance to prevent de facto or de jure annexation in Gaza and the West Bank. A New Policy recommends an amendment to remove the national security waiver which undermines the bill’s enforcement mechanisms. A New Policy also recommends amendment to SEC. 4 (a)(1)(E) striking “permanent” from the language adds a loophole authorizing the long-term occupation of the Gaza Strip modeled after the status quo in the West Bank. Furthermore, A New Policy recommends an amendment to the “Sense of Congress” and “Policy of the United States” sections to recognize that the conditions the Bill seeks to address have not emerged in response to October 7th, but were greatly present prior to that date.
For more information please contact Josh Paul, info@anewpolicy.org, (202) 770-0055
