Top Republicans blame Biden’s ‘appeasement’ of Iran – to the tune of $6 billion – for deadly attack on Israel

Senior Republicans stepped up their attacks on President Joe Biden on Monday, accusing him of appeasing Iran by freezing $6 billion in its assets and encouraging terrorists who attacked Israel over the weekend.

Senior administration officials have pushed back on the unproven link and say they have no plans to freeze the money again after the Hamas attack that killed at least 900 people.

But the last three days of bloodshed have centered on the US-Iran prisoner swap that took place in September, freeing five American citizens held by Tehran in exchange for five Iranian prisoners held in the US and the transfer of billions of dollars frozen in South Korea.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who until last week was Speaker of the House, called for the money to be re-committed.

“Biden’s policy of appeasement, including money for hostage deals, must end,” he said Monday. “His policy only encouraged terrorists.

Anti-Israeli banners and billboards appeared in Tehran on Monday. US officials say Iran was ‘complicit’ in Hamas attacks, but do not say Tehran is directly involved

“And handing over $6 billion to Iran only helps the cause.

“Explaining this to members of Congress, they said they had provisions to freeze the money again if Iran did something wrong. They should freeze the money back today.’

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from its bases in Gaza on Saturday morning.

He fired thousands of rockets and sent commando teams on raids designed to sow death and fear throughout Israel.

In response, the Israel Defense Forces bombarded the Gaza Strip, cutting it off from food, fuel and other supplies as it prepares for a ground invasion.

Israeli TV channels put the death toll from the Hamas attack at 900, while Gaza’s health ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed since Saturday.

US politicians have sent messages of support and solidarity to Israel, while Republicans have sought to blame Biden directly.

Ron DeSandis, who will be a Republican presidential candidate next year, said: “Hamas committed these acts for two simple reasons: They hate the Jewish people and they are evil cowards.

Republicans including former President Kevin McCarthy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped up their attacks on President Joe Biden on Monday, accusing him of appeasing Iran by unfreezing $6 billion in its assets and encouraging terrorists who attacked Israel.

FILE – Palestinians remove a body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike in the Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, October 9, 2023

“They were fueled by Joe Biden’s appeasement of Iran and the desire to destroy further normalization of relations within the Arab world with Israel.”

He also asked the US to freeze the $6 billion again.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Republicans were wrong to believe Iran suddenly had access to billions of dollars in fresh cash.

“None of this money has been allocated or gone to Iran yet. They don’t have access to it,” he told Fox News.

The deal transferred the assets to Qatar, where the central bank oversees their distribution.

Kirby said: “It is set up for humanitarian aid. The Trump administration did the same thing.

Israeli emergency responders inspect a damaged car after a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on October 9, 2023. “Unfortunately, we now know that at least 11 Among those who killed were also American citizens – many of whom made Israel a second home,” Biden said

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, October 8, 2023

“We don’t have a beef with the Iranian people, but none of that money has been allocated. We can refreeze it at any time.’

In an earlier appearance on MSNBC, he said Iran was complicit in the attack, but that the US had no information that it was directly involved.

“Iran has long supported Hamas and other terrorist networks throughout the region with resources, capabilities, training,” he said.

“And in that sense, clearly, Iran is complicit here, but in terms of concrete evidence of that, these kinds of attacks, no, we don’t have anything.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that officers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps worked with Hamas to develop plans and security officials signed off on the attack at a meeting in Beirut last Monday.