Staff Reports
President Biden is facing criticism for his Middle East policies after an Iranian-backed militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel. Conservative critics, including former President Donald Trump and lawmakers, are blaming Biden for emboldening Hamas and Iran with his policy decisions. The attack resulted in over 200 Israeli deaths and the capture of civilians and Israeli soldiers by Hamas.
During remarks from the White House, Biden did not address the criticism directly but reiterated his commitment to supporting Israel’s security. He stated that there is no justification for terrorist attacks and that his administration’s support for Israel is rock solid and unwavering. Biden also warned against any party exploiting the attacks to seek advantage, emphasizing that the world is watching.
One of the main points of contention is a prisoner swap deal with Iran brokered by the Biden administration, which involved unfreezing $6 billion in oil revenues in exchange for prisoners. Critics argue that this move provided Iran with resources to finance attacks on Israel. Former deputy national security advisor Victoria Coates claimed that the unfrozen funds would be used for “violent mayhem” and attacks on Israel. Trump similarly criticized the attacks and accused the Biden administration of funding them with American taxpayer dollars.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise called for Biden to be held accountable for appeasing Hamas terrorists by handing over billions to them and their Iranian backers. The administration, however, denies the allegations, labeling them as a disinformation campaign. The National Security Council spokesperson disputes that any of the funds have been spent and asserts that they can only be used for humanitarian purposes. According to the spokesperson, the funds have no connection to the recent attacks.
