Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized President Biden on Tuesday and accused him of prioritizing humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Hamas has reportedly compromised in the past, at the expense of rescuing American and Israeli hostages.
The Republican presidential candidate said: “Innocent Americans and Israelis are being held hostage by Hamas terrorists, yet Biden is more focused on sending “humanitarian aid” to Gaza, which will be seized by Hamas terrorists.” Published on X Tuesday.
He added: “Biden must work with Israel to free all American and Israeli hostages, and not flood Hamas with money.”
DeSantis’ post included a screenshot of Reuters news article Titled “The United States and Israel develop an aid plan for civilians in Gaza, Blinken says.”
representative. Corey Mills flies to Israel to rescue 32 Americans, says he did Biden job ‘failed’ twice
President Biden, left, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. (Getty Images)
“The Palestinian leadership is already funding Hamas’ atrocities against Israel, and Biden wants to send aid to Gaza that would further support terrorist activity,” DeSantis said in a subsequent post. “As president, I will not send a single dollar to Gaza.”
Biden has been widely criticized by Republicans for not moving quickly enough to secure the release of American hostages in Israel after the October 7 Hamas attack, as well as for not doing enough to help thousands of Americans stranded in Israel find a way home.
DeSantis recently took matters into his own hands by signing an executive order allowing his state to send planes and resources to Israel to rescue stranded Americans.
The Biden administration warns of the potential risks of resuming aid to the Palestinians
Israel responds to a Hamas airstrike on October 7, 2023. (Photo by Momen Fayez/Noor Photo via Getty Images)
DeSantis announced earlier this week that a flight carrying 270 people stranded in Israel had landed in Tampa Bay, Florida.
“I’m proud of how quickly we were able to activate resources and do what the federal government couldn’t do: bring Floridians and other Americans home and reunite them with their families for free,” DeSantis said in a press release.
Protesters attend an “emergency rally for Gaza” outside the Israeli consulate in New York City on Monday, October 9, 2023. Supporters of the two groups clashed at the event as Israel remains at war with Hamas. (Jennifer Mitchell for Fox News Digital)
The State Department announced last Wednesday, four days after the Hamas attack, that “the US government will arrange charter flights to assist US citizens and their immediate family members who have been unable to book commercial transit and are seeking a safe way to leave Israel” starting Friday.
Hamas is believed to be holding 199 Israelis hostage, while 13 Americans are currently unaccounted for, and it is possible that the movement is also being held captive.
In addition, questions have been raised about Hamas’s ability to access humanitarian aid sent to Palestinian refugees.
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The Biden administration has sent hundreds of millions in taxpayer money, including tens of millions in Covid relief funds, to a UN agency accused of harboring Hamas terrorists in the past, Fox News Digital reported on Saturday.
“The United States should not place conditions on our support for Israel because of the demands of the Division,” GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn said this week.
“Humanitarian aid repeatedly ends up in the hands of Hamas terrorists who use it to build rockets and kill more Israelis. We must stop US aid to the Palestinians immediately.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.