Israel war: Biden pressed by Republican senators to freeze $6 billion to Iran

Republican senators are demanding the Biden administration freeze Qatari bank accounts with $6 billion in Iranian funds that the United States government released in September from South Korea before the terror group Hamas launched a deadly attack against Israel.

The request from the lawmakers, which was detailed in a letter to President Joe Biden late on Monday, cited a bombshell Wall Street Journal report saying that Iran directly helped plan the Saturday Hamas attack. As of this writing, 1,000 Israelis and 830 in Gaza are dead, bringing the combined death toll to over 1,800, according to estimates. At least 11 Americans have been killed.

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“Since Hamas began its attack on Israel on Saturday, more than 4,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza, countless Israelis have been injured, and more than 130 individuals have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists,” the Republicans, led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), wrote in the letter. “To stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates countless Israelis is unconscionable.”

The letter continued, “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. 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.”

The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday it has “severely degraded” Hamas capabilities after conducting airstrikes into Gaza, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicted a “long and difficult war.” Iran-backed Hamas warned civilians in Israel on Tuesday in the city of Ashkelon to flee their homes before 5 p.m., though Hamas did not clarify what would occur if that advice was not heeded. Hamas on Monday threatened to execute hostages on broadcast following Israel’s retaliation to the terror.

In the days since the war began, Republican lawmakers have raised heightened concerns over the $6 billion, determining the cash could be used to boost Hamas or other terror activities. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) told the Washington Examiner Tuesday he supports freezing the accounts and also vowed an investigation, as did members on the House Foreign Affairs Committee Monday. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) notably called on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to testify in connection to the $6 billion, noting, “The American people and Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, deserve transparency and answers.”

Congressional investigators have already been eyeing Iran’s influence in the U.S. A Semafor report in late September, based on Iranian government documents, detailed a covert propaganda initiative headed by Iran’s Foreign Ministry that allegedly includes Pentagon official Ariane Tabatabai, “influential overseas academics,” and ex-aides to U.S. Iran envoy Robert Malley — whose alleged mishandling of classified information led to his security clearance being suspended in late June.

Members of Congress have also blasted the Biden administration for previously restarting Palestinian aid, despite the State Department in 2021 determining there is “high risk” that Hamas could derive “indirect, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza.” The U.S. government in 2022, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, dished out roughly $250 million “in humanitarian and economic/development assistance to people living in Gaza and the West Bank,” according to the State Department.

Cliff Owen

“President Biden is refusing to freeze the $6 billion ransom payment to Iran because he is afraid to admit it was a catalyst for the attacks,” Blackburn told 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).

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“The State Department should immediately rescind the waivers that allowed Iranian funds to be converted and moved to more accessible bank accounts, as well as work with U.S. ally Qatar to immediately freeze the accounts containing these funds,” the letter said. “We must stand with Israel and restrict access to these Iranian funds. Iran should be placed under the most stringent sanctions admissible. Anything short of this is unacceptable and only aids in the ability of Iran and Hamas to fund these heinous acts.”

The State Department told the Washington Examiner Biden has “directed his team to do everything we can to support Israel and ensure it has what it needs,” adding, “Our focus remains on the safety of our staff and partners, and the humanitarian needs of those impacted by the violence.”