President Joe Biden is facing harsh criticism for his inexplicable decision to send millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians while at least 199 people are being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.
During his trip to Israel, Biden announced the U.S. would be giving $100 million in aid to Gaza and the West Bank.
“This money will support more than 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians, including emergency needs in Gaza,” he said.
He also insisted “there will be inspections, and aid should go to civilians, not to Hamas.”
President Biden announced $100 million in new U.S. funding for Gaza and the West Bank during his visit to Israel.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 18, 2023
“This money will support more than 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians, including emergency needs in Gaza.” https://t.co/UleVBruEA9 pic.twitter.com/1ImW5Y9bEg
Former Vice President Mike Pence wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “U.S. should make the $100 million in new U.S. funding for Gaza and the West Bank contingent on the Immediate Release of All Hostages. America Stands With Israel.”
If @POTUS has “no higher priority than the release and safe return” all hostages,” U.S. should make the $100 million in new U.S. funding for Gaza and the West Bank contingent on the Immediate Release of All Hostages. America Stands With Israel!🇺🇸🇮🇱 https://t.co/e4yUdO9CSG
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 19, 2023
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) posted, “No U.S. tax dollars to the Gaza Strip. Hamas is holding American hostages and Biden wants to fund them? I challenge every Republican running to step up to the plate and oppose Biden’s $100 million gift to Hamas.”
No U.S. tax dollars to the Gaza Strip.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 18, 2023
Hamas is holding American hostages and Biden wants to fund them?
I challenge every Republican running to step up to the plate and oppose Biden’s $100 million gift to Hamas. pic.twitter.com/h0wPS6bAKs
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump said, “I think right now it’s totally inappropriate… He’s over in Israel and he’s giving money to the Palestinians. I think it’s very inappropriate!”
Trump: “Biden is sending $100 million to the Palestinians … It’s totally inappropriate. He’s over in Israel and he’s giving money to the Palestinians … Very inappropriate!”
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 19, 2023
pic.twitter.com/FWt3RtJzdC
When you first hear Biden’s announcement, you might think, “Oh, that’s good. The people in Gaza really need help right now.”
But Hamas, the terrorist organization that carried out the horrific attack on Israel, governs the Gaza Strip.
So how exactly does the United States plan to ensure the aid will get to civilians and not be diverted to Hamas operations?
State Department spokesman Matt Miller admitted on Thursday that such concerns are “legitimate.” But vowed U.S. officials will “be watching very carefully how it’s delivered.”
That’s fine. But what happens if the U.S. sees aid being diverted from civilians? What is the plan? Sternly rebuke them?
Surely Hamas will tremble with fear when they receive a strongly worded letter if they get caught diverting aid from civilians.
Biden State Department spokesman Matt Miller says there are "legitimate concerns" Hamas terrorists will "divert" Biden's $100 million aid package, intended for Gaza and the West Bank, for their personal use pic.twitter.com/UKIhgB4Z8m
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 19, 2023
If you believe the aid would go to civilians and Hamas would not see a single cent, money is fungible. Therefore, if there were any funds Hamas officials may have been thinking about using to help civilians there, that money could be used to further terrorism.
And even if you truly believe the money will absolutely not be used for terrorism either directly or indirectly, Hamas is still holding an estimated 13 Americans among the at least 199 hostages.
The U.S. has a duty to try to get its people back from terrorist hands. This is worse than making a deal to send Gaza millions of dollars in aid in exchange for the hostages.
This is, in essence, telling terrorists that we might send them millions of dollars in aid no matter what they do because they chose to spend previous humanitarian aid on terrorism, and now their people are suffering, and we feel bad.
The way to deter terrorists from taking hostages is to make sure they don’t think they can commit acts of barbarism — and then be rewarded with millions of dollars of aid.