Republican senators on Capitol Hill accused President Joe Biden on Thursday of supporting “Hamas’ victory over Israel” and becoming a “propaganda tool” for the Palestinian terror group after he vowed to withhold Israeli weapons if Israel proceeds with its invasion of Rafah.
“These bombs are killing civilians in Gaza,” Biden said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday and that he had made it clear to Israel that “if they go into Rafah, I will not provide weapons to Israel.” Deal with Rafa, deal with City – deal with this.
Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton said at a press conference on Thursday that “Hamas leaders and their last four battalions are hiding in Rafah” and “Israel must defeat Hamas in Rafah to win. ”
“Hamas will win if it survives Rafah. Joe Biden threatens to withhold Israeli weapons used in the Rafah fight,” Cotton continued. “Therefore, Joe Biden objectively supports Hamas’ victory over Israel. Simple as that.
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Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton blasted President Biden on Thursday for his comments about withholding weapons from Israel. (Fox News)
“The president is just encouraging Hamas,” Cotton continued. “Why should Hamas release hostages when Joe Biden gives Hamas what it wants: survival without releasing them?”
Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst called Biden a “tool” for his rhetoric.
“He is a tool. In this case, he is a propaganda tool. But Hamas is using him, he is allowing this, he is turning his back on Israel,” she said.
Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, also described the unfolding situation as “not helpful to America’s national security.”
Many Israelis feel ‘betrayed’ after Biden threatens to withhold weapons to defeat Rafah’s Hamas
Displaced Palestinians arrive in central Gaza on Thursday, May 9, after fleeing the southern Gaza city of Rafah. (AP/Abdul Karim Khana)
“Congress passed the funding and the administration allowed these arms sales. Myself and three other members of Congress who follow these sales closely and take this obligation seriously signed on to this agreement,” he said. “Now in the heat of the fighting, this administration is saying we’re going to withdraw this operation. This is unprecedented. It’s going to be watched by our enemies. It’s going to be watched by our allies.”
The press conference was organized by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who wrote on the X that he wanted to discuss “a resolution condemning any actions by the Biden administration to withhold or restrict weapons for Israel ”.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Smoke rises as Israeli airstrikes target buildings near the separation wall between Egypt and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, May 7. (AP/Ramez Habubu)
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“This is all about President Biden and [Secretary of Defense] Lloyd Austin is trying to take over the war from Israel,” Graham said Thursday. “I have a message to Israel: Don’t let them do that.
