Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican from Florida, expressed his reservations about the U.S. sending humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank during a Newsmax interview on Wednesday.
During his appearance on “The Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Mast voiced concerns about the potential misuse of the aid, including the possibility of it supporting Hamas terrorists and similar groups.
He emphasized that the safest way to ensure that the funds don’t end up with terrorists is by not dispatching the aid in the first place. As a U.S. Army veteran, Mast mentioned that even nations like Germany have expressed reservations about funding directed towards the U.N. for the West Bank and Gaza.
Mast underscored his concerns with numbers, noting that even if a small fraction of Gaza’s population were affiliated with Hamas terrorists, the volume of potential terrorists could be substantial.
President Biden’s visit to the region came ahead of Israel’s proposed ground offensive into Gaza, a response to the attack on October 7 by Hamas, which tragically claimed the lives of numerous civilians.
During his visit to Tel Aviv, President Joe Biden emphasized the United States’ unwavering support for Israel. He attributed a recent tragic explosion at a hospital to militants in Gaza, stating, “From the data we have, it seems the blast was caused by a misfired rocket from a Gaza-based terrorist group.”
Furthermore, Biden pledged $100 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza and the West Bank, aiming to assist the over 1 million individuals displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
“If Hamas misuses or diverts the aid, it will only prove their indifference to the well-being of the Palestinian population,” Biden remarked. He further stated that he would discontinue the aid if it wasn’t benefiting the civilians.
While he mentioned his intention to seek an extensive support package for Israel’s defense from Congress, specific details were not provided.
Biden’s chief representative at the United Nations rejected a resolution proposed by Russia concerning humanitarian aid in Gaza. The rejection was based on the resolution’s omission of Israel’s right to self-defense following the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
