DeSantis helps send weapons, ammunition to Israel
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has helped send weapons and ammunition to Israel at the request of the Israeli consul general in Miami, his office confirmed Thursday.
In an email, governor’s spokesman Jeremy Redfern said, “cargo planes contracted by Florida were used to transport healthcare and hospital supplies, drones, body armor, and helmets that first responders can use.”
But Redfern also said the governor’s office “worked with the Consul General [Maor Elbaz-Starinksy in Miami] to help get weapons and ammunition to Israel through private parties.”
He did not say if the weapons and ammo were on the cargo planes that left Florida and arrived in Israel earlier this month. Redfern also wouldn’t reveal what types of weapons and ammunition were sent or whether the Biden Administration is helping coordinate the trips.
The Commerce Department regulates the shipment abroad of many types of U.S. weapons and technology.
DeSantis has been campaigning for the GOP nomination for president in part on his commitment to Israel and the 700 people his administration has flown back to the U.S. His campaign has been selling “DeSantis Airways” T-shirts.
“President Biden is the Commander-in-Chief of our military — not Ron DeSantis,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried in a statement. “The Florida Democratic Party unequivocally supports Israel’s right to self-defense, and American military support for those efforts must come from the U.S. Government — not a handshake deal between a wannabe president and undefined ‘private parties.’ Instead of meddling with military operations to score political points for his failing presidential campaign, Ron needs to stand down and let President Biden do his job.”
DeSantis’ office didn’t immediately respond to a follow-up asking if the state is using the same contractors that have been delivering supplies to Israel and evacuating Americans.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has been flying Americans back to Florida since Oct. 15, three days after DeSantis issued an executive order to use state emergency funds to bring Floridians home.
Officials have been unclear about how much has been authorized for the operation but said the DEM has issued purchase orders totaling $32 million to its vendors so far, an agency official said Thursday.
That number is expected to go higher as more flights are planned. The Orlando Sentinel has identified from public records purchase orders totaling nearly $50 million set aside for the operation.
The airdrop of military equipment comes days before the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual meeting in Las Vegas this weekend, where DeSantis is scheduled to speak Saturday morning.
He and other candidates have criticized the Biden Administration for moving too slowly to start arranging flights home for Americans stranded in Israel when fighting broke out with Hamas in the Gaza Strip Oct. 7. The U.S. has been sending munitions and military equipment since the war broke out and has flown home at least 1,500 U.S since it started arranging flights Oct. 13.
DeSantis also has used state resources to make other political points, using contractors to fly 48 migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last year and other migrants to California over the summer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.