Israel war: GOP-backed bill would refreeze $6 billion unfrozen for Iran by Biden administration

Over 100 House Republicans are backing a bill that would refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian funds that the Biden administration unfroze last month in a prisoner swap, a move that continues to draw harsh criticism from the GOP.

Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the legislation on Thursday. It is co-led by Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (R-OK), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI). There are 103 co-sponsors on the bill that would refreeze the funds that President Joe Biden agreed to transfer from South Korea to Qatar without violating U.S. sanctions.

ISRAEL WAR: FACT-CHECKING WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS ON IRAN AND HAMAS

The funds are intended only to be used for “humanitarian needs,” but some Republicans have blasted Biden for unfreezing the funds, claiming it will help fuel Hamas’s attack against Israel that began on Saturday.

“A month ago on the anniversary of 9/11, the Biden administration unfroze $6 billion and made it available to Iran — the world’s largest state sponsor of terror — while Iran was helping Hamas plan the horrific terror attacks on Israel,” Pfluger said in a statement. “This $6 billion will be used to backfill the money that Iran is paying to Hamas if we don’t act.”

“The Biden Administration’s ‘quiet understanding’ is not good enough,” Pfluger continued. “They must plainly reject any funds going to Iran. Since the Administration refuses to permanently freeze the funds, Congress will.”

Israel declared war against Hamas after the terrorist organization launched rockets into the nation over the weekend. The Israeli government ordered a “total siege” of Gaza, cutting off its population of nearly 2 million from access to electricity, food, and fuel on Monday.

The death toll on both sides was at about 2,500 as of Thursday morning. The White House announced Thursday that 27 Americans were killed in the attacks and that 14 are still missing.

“The Biden Administration first downplayed Iran’s role in Hamas’ attacks and then, astonishingly, tried to claim the $6 billion they gave to Iran has nothing to do with it,” Hern said in a statement. “Appeasing Iran does not work, it just gives them more resources to finance terrorism against Israel and cause chaos in the region. Iran provides over $100 million a year to Hamas; the Biden administration just gave $6 billion to Hamas’ biggest backer.”

However, the White House and State Department have adamantly rejected the claim that unfreezing the funds may have enabled the country to support the Hamas attack.

“Not a single dollar from that account has actually been spent to date,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. “Iran has unfortunately always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like Hamas, and it’s done that when there have been sanctions.”

Republican senators have demanded that the Biden administration freeze the Qatari bank accounts that house the $6 billion in Iranian funds. The request was detailed in a letter to Biden on Monday led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

“Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel,” Blackburn wrote in the letter. “Moreover, allowing $6 billion to flow into Iran’s economy, even if the purpose is for humanitarian aid, allows the Iranian regime to reallocate even more funds to supporting terrorism.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

There were 20 signatories to the Iran letter, including Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Katie Britt (R-AL).

“The United States does not regret bringing home American citizens who have been unjustly detained abroad,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the Washington Examiner. “As I said before, the president has no higher priority than to get Americans home.”