By In an attempt to blame Israel for “intelligence failures,” the Biden administration may have accidentally admitted that they helped fund the terrorist attack launched by Hamas last weekend.
CNN reports that “the US intelligence community produced at least two assessments based in part on intelligence provided by Israel warning the Biden administration of an increased risk for Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the weeks ahead of Saturday’s seismic attack on southern Israel, according to sources familiar with the intelligence.
One update from September 28 warned, based on multiple streams of intelligence, that the terror group Hamas was poised to escalate rocket-attacks across the border. An October 5 wire from the CIA warned generally of the increasing possibility of violence by Hamas. Then, on October 6, the day before the attack, US officials circulated reporting from Israel indicating unusual activity by Hamas — indications that are now clear: an attack was imminent.”
That news caused some eyebrows to raise their eyebrows.
Wait hold on.
At the start of October the State Dept. took the politically aggressive – and costly – step of blowing through GOP holds to approve sending $75 million in aid to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
But the US knew Hamas was planning a genocidal assault in Sept? https://t.co/PgEUCfryW6
— Omri Ceren (@omriceren) October 13, 2023
Just days before the attack, the Middle East Monitor noted that “in a quiet move bypassing Republican obstructionism, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved the release of $75 million in crucial food assistance for Palestinians just hours before the funds were set to be redistributed elsewhere.
Blinken’s decision came after months of pressure from Democratic lawmakers and dozens of civil society groups, who warned that blocking the aid would create a humanitarian disaster for over one million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The aid had been held up by Republican Senators who are said to be seeking to use the funds as leverage for political concessions. Senator Jim Risch and Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republicans on the Senate and House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committees, have since late July been blocking the State Department from providing the funds to the UN’s Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA).”
The Hill explained the Republican objection to the funds: “Risch’s criticism is centered on wanting the State Department to ensure that the agency is not employing Hamas-affiliated individuals, that its schools are not used as weapons storage for the military group, and that Palestinian Authority education materials used by the U.N. group are revised to address antisemitism and hatred towards Israel.
A congressional aide said the State Department has offered briefings to staff on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but has not been able to adequately address these concerns.”
Anthony Blinken decided to override Republican objections and sent them cash anyway. Days later we learned what Hamas had planned, which Blinken allegedly knew after cutting the check to Palestine.
Documents obtained by NBC News revealed that “Hamas created detailed plans to target elementary schools and a youth center in the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Sa’ad, to “kill as many people as possible,” seize hostages and quickly move them into the Gaza Strip.
The attack plans, which are labeled “top secret” in Arabic, appear to be orders for two highly trained Hamas units to surround and infiltrate villages and target places where civilians, including children, gather. Israeli authorities are still determining the death toll in Kfar Sa’ad.
The documents were found on the bodies of Hamas terrorists by Israeli first responders and shared with NBC News. They include detailed maps and show that Hamas intended to kill or take hostage civilians and school children.”
The October funding was not the only time that Biden had sent millions in taxpayer funding to Hamas-connected groups. The White House also used COVID to support the terrorist-linked group in charge of Gaza.
Fox News wrote, “The Biden administration sent $33.7 million from the American Rescue Plan, a spending bill meant to combat COVID, to a Palestinian relief organization that has previously been accused of providing safe harbor to terrorists in Gaza and has been referred to as “effectively a branch of Hamas.”
The American Rescue Plan, a COVID-19 relief bill pushed through Congress with unanimous Democrat support in the Senate and almost unanimous in the House, allocated $33.7 million to the United Nations Relief & Works Agency through the State Department’s Migration and Refugee Assistance program, according to data from USASpending.gov, as part of $500 million that was included in the bill for the State Department to fund migration and refugee assistance.”
You’ll be surprised to learn that liberals responded to criticisms that the funding would help Hamas perpetrate the exact terrorist attacks that happened in Israel by calling Republicans (and the Israelis) racist.
The funding from the State Department is another perfect example of how Joe Biden might be president, but he’s not making all the decisions.
Joe Biden recently said, “We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack,” but his administration clearly stands with Palestine and Hamas.
“Since April 2021, the United States has provided over half a billion dollars in assistance for the Palestinians, including more than $417 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestinian refugees through UNRWA, $75 million in support through USAID, and $20.5 million in COVID and Gaza recovery assistance,” according to Biden’s own State Department.
“The U.S. government plans to provide an additional $75 million in economic assistance to the Palestinian people this year. Additionally, the United States is also providing $45 million for programs to support the security sector including important improvements to the rule of law.
U.S. assistance for the Palestinian people supports the Palestinian private sector, rapid relief to the neediest households, strengthening Palestinian civil society, and providing access to basic services such as water, sanitation, and hygiene. It also advances the rule of law, particularly in the security sector.
UNRWA’s mandate and work is important, especially in Gaza. UNRWA’s services include education, health care, emergency relief, social services, mental health and psychosocial support, and livelihoods assistance, among other activities in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank and Gaza. The United States remains committed to strengthening UNRWA’s management, oversight, and accountability, as well as putting UNRWA on a sustainable financial path.
In addition, $100 million directed to the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) for the first two years of a 5-year commitment will strengthen people-to-people engagement between Palestinians and Israelis to create the conditions for lasting peace.
MEPPA’s first two awards announced by USAID on March 8 support the Palestinian and Israeli private sectors to build partnerships, increase economic growth, and lay the foundation for peace through people-to-people programs.”
When the conflict first began, the Biden State Department initially took a leftwing, anti-Israel stance via social media.
The New Republic noted, “On Saturday, before the conflict really escalated, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss a solution. Blinken then shared a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying he ‘encouraged Turkey’s advocacy for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages by Hamas immediately.’
He quickly deleted the post and replaced it with a statement that said only, ‘Israel has the right to defend itself, rescue any hostages, and protect its citizens.’
Blinken’s fast 180 was the second time the State Department backtracked on a statement calling for Israeli restraint.
Hours after the initial attack, the State Department’s Office of Palestinian Affairs said on X that it ‘unequivocally condemned the attack of Hamas terrorists and the loss of life that has incurred. We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing.’
The office soon deleted the post and shared a statement saying only that it “unequivocally” condemned the attack.”
The global Left, including “The Squad” of progressive Democrats in Congress and, presumably, much of the staff actually making decisions, have served as apologists for Hamas’s attacks over the past week.
As the war continues, the question will remain: will the White House listen to the president and his pro-Israel stance or will staff like Anthony Blinken continue to push their pro-Palestine policies with an old and tired president being helpless to stop them?
[Read More: Biden May Never Recover From This Blunder]
