'Ridiculous': Ex-Israeli ambassador shreds GOP claims Biden caused Hamas attack
Republican claims that President Joe Biden is to blame for the devastating Hamas attack on civilians in Israel are "ridiculous," said former U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides on CNN Monday evening.
This comes as GOP lawmakers try to connect the planned $6 billion unfreezing of Iranian assets to the attack, as Iran is a known sponsor of Hamas — even though there's no evidence as of now that Iran even was involved in the attack.
A Fox News report explained that the funds have not yet been used and are still in an account that is being regulated by the United States. The deal, which specifically tracks the money to be used for humanitarian purposes only, was brokered to secure the release of American hostages in that country.
"We are showing our viewers live pictures coming out of Gaza," said anchor Wolf Blitzer. "We're hearing the explosions, more strikes going on right now. Israel clearly is continuing its operation there. On another issue, and while I have you, Ambassador, with hindsight, was it a mistake for the Biden administration to unfreeze some $6 billion in Iranian money for humanitarian purposes?"
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"First of all, it's, without question, one of the more ridiculous things I've heard," said Nides. "Given, one, I think the administration said not a penny of that money has gone out yet. But I was there for two years where Hamas was shooting off rockets. I was there three months ago when 800 or 900 rockets were sent into southern Israel, into Tel Aviv."
"This idea of provoking Israel and poking Israel constantly has been Hamas' game plan from the beginning," Nides continued. "They don't speak for the Palestinian people. Their goal is to see exactly what's going on right now in Gaza. They don't care about the Palestinian people in Gaza. What they want is to create chaos. They want to create what's going on now. This is what they are trying to be successful at doing."
"So, my view of this is that — and the president has been very clear by his statements, as you know, Wolf, better than most — this president has been as pro-Israel as one can get," added Nides. "And his comments when he has said multiple times, you don't have to be ... a Jew to care about — and to be a Zionist. Just an hour ago, the vice president called me to express her views about what's going on. And she's heavily engaged in this. The whole White House is fixated on making sure that they are looking towards and focusing on the support of the State of Israel and the Israeli people, and the Americans that are obviously involved in this as well. So, there's a strong commitment on behalf of this administration."
Watch the video below or at the link here.
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