On Friday, the Biden administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent Congress an emergency supplemental funding package request to aid Ukraine, and Israel and to increase security at the southern border on Friday morning.
The administration is asking for $105 billion in total.
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee expressed concerns that the supplemental request, which includes humanitarian aid for Gaza, will further fund terrorism in the region.
U.S. aid sent to Gaza is being stolen by Hamas.
We must immediately stop sending our money to terrorists.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 20, 2023
From Fox News:
“Even last week, we got a report that Hamas was intersecting aid that was going and whether it is money, food, fuel even first aid kits and medical supplies — they’re taking it all and it is not even Gazans,” Blackburn told Fox News Digital in an interview Friday. “So, we’ve got to move to a position where humanitarian aid is going to make it to people that are suffering, and not terrorists.”
Last week, the United Nations agency that delivers aid to Palestinians, announced Hamas leaders in Gaza had stolen medical supplies and fuel that was meant for civilians. They later deleted the post on X and claimed nothing had been stolen.
In Biden’s $105 billion emergency supplemental request, he outlined $9 billion for Ukraine, Gaza, and Israel.
“The majority of the American people support Israel, and they want to make certain that aid is going to make it to people who need that aid,” Blackburn said. “You now have this progressive group that conducts themselves as if they are Hamas sympathizers, and that is incredibly disappointing to see.”
Hamas used @UNICEF first aid kits while they were carrying out their massacre of Israeli civilians.
More evidence that international aid to Gaza goes to Hamas.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 21, 2023
Prior to his trip to Israel last week, Blackburn called on Biden to freeze the $6 billion payment his administration was going to give to Iran.
Stop appeasing terrorists. Freeze all money going towards terrorist organizations. Close the southern border.
Stand in solidarity with Israel. pic.twitter.com/T9qQpRAJFk
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 17, 2023
The sentiment was echoed by North Carolina Senator Ted Budd.
Hamas terrorists would not have been able to execute such a heinous series of attacks without Iran's support.
Biden should permanently freeze the $6 billion ransom payment to the world's #1 state sponsor of terrorism.#StandWithIsrael pic.twitter.com/NOM3Duf7S7
— Senator Ted Budd (@SenTedBuddNC) October 17, 2023
Per Fox News:
“The USA should not be placing conditions on our support for Israel because of demands from the ‘Squad.’ Humanitarian aid repeatedly ends up in the hands of Hamas terrorists who use it to build rockets & kill more Israelis. We should immediately halt U.S. aid for the Palestinians,” Blackburn said.
Biden’s administration has publicly offered its full support for Israel’s right to defend itself and retaliate against Hamas. Nevertheless, Biden has said it would be a “mistake” for Israel to occupy Gaza, and the U.S. has repeatedly stated that the conflict must minimize suffering in Gaza.
Congress will convene next week to begin negotiations on the supplemental request and pass a final package before sending it for final approval to the White House.
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