Congress urges Biden: Stop sending U.S. tax dollars to Hamas terrorists
Joe Biden greets White House Fellows, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in the Oval Office. (Official White House photo by Adam Schultz)
American tax dollars long have gone to Gaza, where Hamas is the government, leading many to question whether the U.S. actually is funding the organization's terrorism.
Those questioning the decisions to send money there have become more insistent following Hamas' atrocity-laden terrorism it inflicted on Israel on Oct. 7, when it killed 1,400 and kidnapped hundreds more.
In fact, Joe Biden's recent announcement of a plan to send $100 million in "aid" to Gaza after the Hamas horror immediately drew concerns.
And now a report at The Center Square reveals concerns held by a group of leading House Republicans that any money Biden sends will go to Hamas, and its terrorism.
Lawmakers are asking the U.S. Agency for International Development, which handles much of America's overseas aid, about how to prevent that.
"According to records produced by the State Department in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the State Department was concerned in 2021 about U.S. assistance falling into the hands of Hamas," a congressional letter to USAID explains.
It was a draft memo from the State Department to the Department of the Treasury that already has cited the "high risk" of American tax dollars being accessed – and used – by Hamas terrorists.
An official for USAID told The Center Square U.S. help for Palestinians doesn't go to Hamas, explaining that humanitarian help, such as food, medical care, shelter and more, goes through "trusted" groups like the World Food Program and others.
And Joe Biden addressed the growing concerns when he said, "If Hamas diverts or steals the assistance, they will have demonstrated once again that they have no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people and it will end. As a practical matter, it will – it will stop the international community from being able to provide this aid."
Critics, however, said in the report that money is fungible, and what the U.S. sends for food and shelter frees up other money – for other purposes.
So lawmakers say they want to know details of Biden's handouts.
"This includes assessments and controls for hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer-funded humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank and the risk that any of these funds could fall into the hands of or otherwise aid Foreign Terrorist Organizations such as Hamas," the members of Congress wrote to USAID chief Samantha Power.
There already was a determination that American money was not going to the proper recipients.
The letter cited the cut in funding from $286 million a year in 2017 to only $18 million by the end of President Donald Trump's term.
When Biden was elected, he pushed the American handout back up to $235 million, including $75 million specifically for Gaza.
The letter also cites Biden's decision to give money to Iran, widely known as sponsoring terrorism around the world.
The letter charged, "Public reports state that the Islamic Republic of Iran provides Hamas with direct funding, amounting to tens of millions annually. We also know that the Biden administration dramatically increased funding to Gaza and the West Bank and on October 18th, he publicly announced an additional $100 million in U.S. aid to the area. It is vital to fully account for U.S. funds intended for humanitarian purposes to ensure they do not directly or indirectly fund terrorism."
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