Make Gaza Great Again Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1136

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-07: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-06-11T05:06:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Make Gaza Great Again Act" (H.R. 1136) aims to pressure Middle Eastern countries—excluding Israel—to cooperate with the United States by granting humanitarian entry (such as visas or refuge) to Palestinians from Gaza. It does this by authorizing sanctions against non-cooperating foreign officials and suspending certain U.S. foreign aid and designations for uncooperative governments.

Key Provisions

• List of Non-Cooperating Persons: Within 60 days of enactment, the President must submit to Congress a list of foreign government representatives (like diplomats) who have rejected a U.S. request for humanitarian entry to Palestinians from Gaza. This list must be updated annually for 5 years or as new information arises, and it can include classified details.
• Sanctions on Listed Persons:
• Property Blocking: The President can freeze assets and block transactions involving the listed person's property in or controlled by the U.S., using powers from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA, a law allowing economic measures during national emergencies).
• Travel and Immigration Bans: Listed persons become inadmissible to the U.S., ineligible for visas or entry, and any existing visas are automatically revoked.
• Penalties for Violations: Violators of these sanctions face fines or imprisonment under IEEPA rules.
• Exceptions and Waivers:
• Exemptions apply to U.S. intelligence or law enforcement activities.
• The President can waive sanctions case-by-case if it's in the U.S. national interest, but must report to Congress every 120 days on waivers used.
• Suspension of Aid and Designations: The President can suspend a country's "Major Non-NATO Ally" status (a special U.S. partnership providing benefits like military aid) and halt all foreign assistance (including security aid) if its government rejects the U.S. request. Suspensions can end with congressional notice.
• Sunset Clause: Sanctions authority expires after 5 years.
• Rule of Construction: The law explicitly does not apply to Israel or its nationals.
• Definitions: "Appropriate congressional committees" are the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This act creates a new, targeted sanctions mechanism under IEEPA specifically for humanitarian cooperation on Palestinian relocation, bypassing some IEEPA requirements (like formal emergency declarations).
• It introduces mandatory listing and sanctioning processes for foreign officials based on diplomatic rejections, which is not a standard feature of prior U.S. sanctions laws.
• Expands presidential authority to suspend Major Non-NATO Ally designations and foreign aid without new legislation, building on but altering the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. State Department and Treasury would handle list submissions, sanctions implementation, and aid suspensions, increasing administrative workload and requiring coordination with intelligence agencies.
• On Citizens and Individuals: Palestinian refugees could gain new pathways to humanitarian entry in cooperating countries, but listed foreign officials might face personal financial losses, travel restrictions, and career disruptions.
• On International Relations: Could strain U.S. ties with Middle Eastern allies (e.g., Jordan, Egypt, or Saudi Arabia) by threatening aid and partnerships, potentially isolating non-cooperators while strengthening U.S.-Israel relations. It might encourage regional burden-sharing for Gaza's humanitarian crisis but risk backlash or reduced cooperation on other issues like counterterrorism.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government: President (enforcement discretion), Congress (oversight via committees), and agencies like State, Treasury, and intelligence community.
• Middle Eastern Governments (Excluding Israel): Officials and diplomats at risk of sanctions; countries could lose U.S. aid and ally status, affecting their economies and security.
• Palestinians from Gaza: Potential beneficiaries through increased humanitarian relocation options.
• Foreign Persons and Diplomats: Listed individuals face asset freezes and U.S. entry bans, impacting their professional and personal lives.
• U.S. Taxpayers and Aid Recipients: Indirectly affected by reallocating or withholding foreign assistance.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies heavily on IEEPA, which has faced court challenges for broad executive power; listed persons might contest sanctions on due process grounds (e.g., lack of appeal rights). The unclassified list with possible classified annex balances transparency and security but could lead to leaks or disputes.
• Constitutional: Enhances executive branch authority in foreign policy (a shared power with Congress), with built-in congressional reporting to maintain checks and balances. No direct constitutional issues noted, but it could raise separation-of-powers questions if waivers are overused.
• Political: The provocative title ("Make Gaza Great Again Act") echoes partisan rhetoric, potentially polarizing debate along U.S. domestic lines on Middle East policy. It signals a U.S. push for Palestinian relocation amid Gaza's conflicts, which could influence peace negotiations or alliances but invite criticism for coercive diplomacy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-07: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-07: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-07: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-07: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Make Gaza Great Again Act — issued 2025-02-07 — PDF (6 pages)