(TotalConservative.com) – President Joe Biden announced his intention to deploy U.S. military servicemen to Gaza to aid with the distribution of relief supplies in the wake of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Israel has been engaged in ongoing military operations inside Gaza since a Hamas-led terror attack on October 7 of last year resulted in the deaths of over 1200 Israelis and roughly 250 people being taken hostage. Many of the hostages are still being held in Gaza in tunnels under its urban centers.
Biden announced the plan during the State of the Union address on March 7. He suggested that an “emergency mission” would construct a temporary port in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Israel’s obstruction of deliveries to Gaza is being cited as the reason for the plan. Aid is often hijacked by Hamas soldiers who have threatened violence against their own people if they interfere. Hamas has been taking much of the supplies for its soldiers to the detriment of the people.
Republicans ripped the plan, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) who suggested Biden was capitulating “to the pro-Hamas” activists within his own party.
Former Ambassador to Israel David Friedman suggested the move was “a cheap political trick,” in comments posted to social media. He highlighted that the aid will still be hijacked by Hamas and that virtually all the support sent into Gaza aids the militant terrorist organization in its battle against Israel.
Friedman called the move a “virtue signal” and suggested it was similar to patterns of behavior in the past that have wrought the current outbreak of perennial violence.
Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) asked why Americans had to cover costs for a port in Gaza when it was obviously a political move to cope with his failing poll numbers.
Sen. J.D. Vance called the idea “insane” while adding that it would unnecessarily put American lives in danger. He suggested Congress use “every tool” to fight Biden’s plan.
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