House Republican leaders are slamming President Biden after he suggested the United States might curb aid to Israel unless it does more to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip.
“There is only one group of people who stands to benefit from the terms of support for Israel, and that is Hamas. Once again, Joe Biden has weakened our strongest ally in the Middle East and turned it into a barbaric terrorist. It’s empowering,” House Majority Leader Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told FOX News Digital on Friday.
Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, as the president faces growing pressure from the left to provide aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. The White House said Biden “recognized the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of concrete, specific, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.” “We have clarified the U.S. policy regarding Gaza,” he said. It will depend on our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these measures. ”
Asked about the possibility of President Biden cutting military aid to Israel, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R.N.Y.) told Fox News Digital that “Joe Biden is our most valued ally. “Demanding Israel to surrender to Hamas terrorists is completely unacceptable.” . ”
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House Republican leaders, including House Majority Leader Tom Emmer (R-Minn., left) and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-R (right), condition President Biden’s support for Israel. President Biden has been criticized for suggesting that there is a possibility of adding (Getty Images)
“Israel has every right to defend itself, and House Republicans will continue to fight to ensure we have the resources we need to accomplish our mission,” Stefanik said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for an explanation of Biden’s comments and a response to criticism from House Republican leadership.
Progressives have been pressuring Biden for months to curb military aid to Israel, accusing the Middle Eastern country of violating U.S. policy on humanitarian aid with its campaign in Gaza. . More Democrats have joined the wave in the wake of an Israeli airstrike that killed seven humanitarian aid workers in central Gaza this week.
“From a moral standpoint and a political standpoint, what he said today really signals a change in policy,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., said on the Democratic-supporting show Pod Save America. I strongly hope that there will be.” . ”
Biden warns Prime Minister Netanyahu that he will change Gaza policy unless Israel protects civilians
Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday following the deaths of seven humanitarian aid workers at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). (Abil Sultan/Pool photo via AP, file)
But Republicans and some moderate Democrats argue that weakening U.S. support for Israel is a victory for Hamas. Republican lawmakers criticized Biden after he said the White House had called for an “immediate ceasefire to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians.”
“The president’s ultimatum should be directed at Hamas, not Israel,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) wrote on Thursday. “Hamas is resisting a ceasefire, causing unnecessary bloodshed, and refusing to release Israeli and American hostages. Biden should not undermine an ally in existential crisis by conditioning our support. do not have.”
Senate Republicans similarly fired back at Biden on social media.
“Today, Hamas once again fired rockets at Israeli civilians, while President Biden declared that he wants to change policy toward Israel. It cannot be quelled,” Republican Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said on X.
Gaza’s young anti-Hamas activists take action, but are ignored by the United Nations and aid groups
The Democratic Party escalated its criticism of Israel after an Israeli Defense Force airstrike killed seven humanitarian aid workers in central Gaza. (AP)
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said President Biden “must support Israel’s fight to protect its people and defeat terrorists.”
“If he turns his back on our allies, he will end up on the wrong side of history,” he said.
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Israel has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since shortly after October 7, when the terrorist group invaded southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
The death toll for Palestinians since October 7 has exceeded 30,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
