WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined their colleagues in sending a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer(D-NY) urging him to reject President Biden’s request for up to $9 billion in humanitarian assistance to Hamas-controlled Gaza.
“We are writing to demand that, during Israel’s existential war against Iran’s terrorist proxies, you reject the billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance requested for Gaza as part of President Biden’s $106 billion aid package,” the senators wrote. “As you know, sending aid to the Palestinians in Gaza is akin to funneling aid directly to Hamas. The president’s decision to allocate additional funding, in addition to the $100 million in aid previously announced, will inevitably end up in the hands of a genocidal Palestinian terrorist organization that has evidenced its desire to destroy the Jewish state.”
The letter was also signed by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Mike Braun (R-IN).
Read the letter below or here.
Dear Leader Schumer:
We are writing to demand that, during Israel’s existential war against Iran’s terrorist proxies, you reject the billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance requested for Gaza as part of President Biden’s $106 billion aid package. As you know, sending aid to the Palestinians in Gaza is akin to funneling aid directly to Hamas. The president’s decision to allocate additional funding, in addition to the $100 million in aid previously announced, will inevitably end up in the hands of a genocidal Palestinian terrorist organization that has evidenced its desire to destroy the Jewish state.
Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East. As such, it is perplexing why the President would ask Congress to enable the United States to inadvertently fund Hamas’ terror campaign against Israel. As we’ve seen in the past, this so-called “humanitarian aid” will likely be channeled through international organizations, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).3 This is not speculation — just last week, we saw reports that Hamas stole fuel and medical equipment from UNRWA, which the organization initially admitted but then subsequently denied. UNICEF medical kits were even found on the bodies of Hamas terrorists from the horrific October 7th attack. For over a decade, Hamas has stolen aid from UNRWA intended for the Palestinian people, and the organization has a well-documented history of antisemitism. For example, UNRWA distributes educational materials that teach Palestinian children to hate Jews, and which glorify acts of terrorism.
The Biden administration knows full well the inherent risks in sending aid to Gaza. Internal State Department documents indicate that the Biden administration is well aware of the fact that sending taxpayer dollars to the Palestinians could bolster Hamas. As you must recognize, there is no way for the U.S. to have proper oversight over the billions of dollars that the administration intends to funnel to Gaza when Gaza is being ruled by a terrorist organization. You have always been an ally of Israel, and you represent the state with the biggest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel. We are asking you to keep your commitment to stand with the Jewish State. That should include not sending one more dollar in humanitarian assistance to Gaza until Hamas is removed as the ruling party. Sending aid to the Palestinians would be a gift to Hamas, the same group that slaughtered over 1,400 Israelis and abducted over 200 hostages, including Americans. We implore you to ensure the U.S. does not send aid that will only strengthen Hamas’ ability to murder more Jews. This is the time to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our closest ally in the Middle East as they fight for their very existence.
BACKGROUND:
Senator Tuberville stands unequivocally with Israel and believes the lives tragically lost are a result of Joe Biden’s appeasement of Iran. Joe Biden has let Iran off the hook by loosening sanctions, attempting to re-enter the Iran Nuclear Deal, and, most recently, negotiating $6 billion to Iran. Joe Biden’s appeasement of Iran has only emboldened them to work with Hamas to orchestrate terrorist attacks against our closest ally in the Middle East.
Senator Tuberville delivered a floor speech supporting Israel earlier today.
Last week, Coach Tuberville joined legislation to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. Coach Tuberville also recently wrote an op-ed and sent a letter on the importance of separating Israel aid from Ukraine aid.
In the wake of the terror attacks, Coach cosponsored the Revoke Iranian Funding Act to freeze the $6 billion in funding the Biden administration released to Iran at the bank in Qatar where it is currently being held. This would ensure these dollars are not used by Iran to promote terrorism against Israel or any other nation.
Coach also cosponsored the Emergency Resupply for IRON DOME Act of 2023, a bill to authorize the Executive Branch to redirect U.S. foreign assistance away from Hamas-controlled Gaza and instead to help Israel replenish its Iron Dome, which has been highly effective in intercepting rockets and saving lives.
Coach also joined legislation to cut U.S. funds to the antisemitic United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The UNRWA has a history of employing individuals affiliated with Hamas, an Iranian-backed, U.S.- designated terrorist organization. Additionally, UNRWA schools have been used to store Hamas weapons and promote anti-Semitic education in their textbooks.
Coach also joined his colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to enforce existing law and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who endorse or espouse activity in support of Hamas or other Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).
Coach also joined at least thirty of his colleagues this week in sending a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize rescuing American hostages that were taken by Hamas during its attacks on Israel and to support Israel’s efforts to wipe out Hamas.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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