Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Yemeni Armed Forces have launched an additional drone toward "Israel," and it was intercepted.
Occupied Palestine: The IOF spokesman announced the Air Force intercepted an unmanned aircraft from the east.
Head of the Russian delegation to the talks in Turkey: The Russian-Ukrainian talks yielded good results.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: Martyrs and wounded after an IOF aircraft bombed a house in Tal al-Zaatar, north of the Gaza Strip.
Libya: The Libyan Ministry of Health declares a state of maximum emergency in all hospitals to support medical staff working in Tripoli and its suburbs.
Libya: Demonstrations in several Libyan cities demand the overthrow of the Dbeibah government.
Italian Foreign Ministry: We are following developments in Libya with concern and reiterate our call for all parties to return to calm and dialogue.
Libya: Demonstration in Bani Walid calls for the overthrow of the Dbeibah government and holding it accountable.
Libya: Sabratha Municipal Council supports the overthrow of the Dbeibah government and calls on it to leave.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: The IOF is carrying out massive bombing operations in the northern Gaza Strip.

US House to vote on bill criminalizing boycott of 'Israel'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 3 May 2025 15:15
  • 41 Shares
4 Min Read

The US House is set to vote on a bill criminalizing boycotts of the Israeli regime, with penalties of up to $1 million or 20 years in prison.

Listen
  • x
  • Pro-Palestinian protesters march toward the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Washington (AP)
    Pro-Palestinian protesters march toward the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a controversial bill that would impose severe penalties, including steep fines and lengthy prison terms, on American citizens who participate in boycotts of the Israeli regime or its illegal settlements when such boycotts are promoted by international bodies like the United Nations or the European Union.

The vote on the so-called anti-boycott legislation is scheduled for Monday. If passed, the bill would expand existing US anti-boycott laws to penalize individuals for taking part in peaceful, values-driven political actions; most notably those aligned with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Co-sponsored by pro-Israeli lawmakers Mike Lawler and Josh Gottheimer, the legislation proposes punishments of up to $1 million in fines or up to 20 years in prison.

Rights organizations have condemned the bill, warning that it would criminalize constitutionally protected free speech and political expression. Advocacy groups argue that the law is part of a broader US effort to suppress criticism of the Israeli regime and shield it from accountability for its ongoing genocide in Gaza, systemic apartheid, and continued expansion of illegal settlements.

Originally introduced in 2024, the bill passed the then-Republican-controlled House but was blocked in the Senate by Democrats. With Republicans now holding majorities in both chambers, the bill has a strong chance of becoming law.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the most influential Israeli lobbying group in the United States, has declared that it "strongly supports" the legislation. Similarly, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) Action has backed the bill and broader efforts in Congress to counter boycott campaigns targeting the Israeli occupation.

Related News

US House passes bill to sanction ICC for targeting 'Israel'

NY race for US House latest 'Israel' lobby battleground: Reuters

Growing concerns over humanitarian catastrophe

The push for this legislation comes as international boycotts continue to grow in response to the Israeli regime's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 52,500 Palestinians and wounded at least 118,000 others, most of whom are women and children. The aggression comes amid a stifling blockade that has terribly worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, leaving children to starve to death.

Following two months of a cruel blockade imposed by "Israel" on Gaza, Amnesty International has called on the occupation to immediately lift its devastating siege, describing it as a genocidal act, an unlawful form of collective punishment, and a war crime involving the use of starvation as a weapon.

By obstructing the entry of essential supplies needed for the survival of civilians, "Israel" is continuing a policy that deliberately creates life-threatening conditions for Palestinians in Gaza; conditions Amnesty says are designed to bring about their physical destruction, amounting to genocide.

An inferno of death, destruction

New, harrowing testimonies collected by Amnesty International in April reveal the severe humanitarian consequences of "Israel’s" total blockade, where starvation and the denial of vital resources are being weaponized in blatant violation of international law.

“The extent of human suffering in Gaza for the past 19 months has been unimaginable, and it is a direct consequence of Israel’s ongoing genocide. Apart from a brief respite during the temporary truce, Israel has relentlessly and mercilessly turned Gaza into an inferno of death and destruction,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy, and Campaigns.

"Apart from a brief respite during the temporary truce, Israel has relentlessly and mercilessly turned Gaza into an inferno of death and destruction."

Rosas urged the global community to act, calling on "Israel’s" allies to pressure it to lift the siege, allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and implement a sustained ceasefire to prevent further atrocities.

  • United States
  • US Congress
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Palestine
  • Occupied Palestine
  • Gaza
  • boycott
  • BDS Movement
  • US House
  • AIPAC

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza
MENA

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump administration planning to send 1 million Palestinians to Libya

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' concerned, says US withholding info about indirect Iran talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual ceremony at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in occupied al-Quds on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu cancels Vatican visit over fears of ICC arrest

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS