- Ella Emhoff, 24, shared the link for the Palestinian Children’s Aid Fund with 315,000 Instagram followers
- The crowdsourced appeal has raised nearly $8 million so far, but Van Drew claimed the money could end up in the hands of Hamas.
- A member of the House Homeland Security Committee labeled the move ‘appalling’
Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew has criticized Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, for reposting a link to a fundraiser to support the children of Gaza.
The 24-year-old recently shared a link to the Palestinian Children’s Aid Fund with her 315,000 Instagram followers.
So far, the widely shared appeal has raised nearly $8 million for the nonprofit, which was founded by Americans to help youth in the beleaguered region, which is 50% children.
But Rep. Van Drew (R-NJ) claimed that any money raised would almost certainly be used by Hamas, whose October 7 terrorist attack killed 1,400 Israelis and sparked the retaliatory strikes.
“It’s a huge concern and I find it abhorrent,” said Van Drew, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. New York Post.
GOP Congressman Jeff Van Drew slammed Ella Emfoff (left), the stepdaughter of Kamala Harris (right), over her decision to repost a link to a fundraiser for Palestinian children
The Republican representative claimed that the money raised for humanitarian aid would end up in the hands of Hamas
“To be honest, I’m a little baffled by it. It is disturbing to the highest degree.”
Emhoff’s father is American second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, although she has said she does not consider herself Jewish.
It comes as President Biden called for a humanitarian pause in the bombing, which has killed more than 9,000 people so far, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
“I think we need a break,” Biden said during a news conference earlier this week.
He stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, saying the “pause” meant “time to get the prisoners out,” referring to the Israeli hostages.
Although the president has stated his support for Israel, international support for the attacks in Gaza has waned in the wake of reports of devastating hits in refugee camps and churches.
Emhoff is the daughter of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (second from left), who is Jewish but does not classify himself as Jewish
The Palestinian Children’s Aid Fund appeal has raised nearly $8 million to date
“This is incredibly complicated for the Israelis,” Biden continued. ‘It is also incredibly complicated for the Muslim world. … I have supported a two-state solution, from the very beginning.”
‘The fact is that Hamas is a terrorist organization. A full-blown terrorist organization,” he said.
Last month, Biden unveiled plans for $100 million in aid to Gazans, sparking fierce opposition from Republicans.
He was also involved in talks to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to allow aid to Gaza.