Republicans in House and Senate are slamming the Biden administration for unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian assets months before Hamas terrorists launched a deadly and massive attack on Israel early Saturday, criticism the Biden administration called “false and misleading.”
“Just a few weeks ago, the Biden administration handed over $6 billion to Iran, and today, innocent Israelis were killed by Iranian-backed terrorists,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, said in a statement “We must continue to support our strongest ally in the Middle East and its right to defend itself against these horrific and unprovoked attacks.”
Blackburn spoke next Hamas terrorists invaded areas from southern Israel. Thousands of rockets were fired at Israel and dozens of fighters infiltrated across the border. Local Israeli media reported that at least 100 people have been killed in the assault.
WASHINGTON – APRIL 19: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, questions Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Daniel Werfel during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on “The Fiscal Year IRS Budget President’s 2024 and the 2023 IRS Filing Season” on Wednesday, April 19. 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was “at war” and vowed that the attackers would pay “an unprecedented price.” The White House said President Biden was briefed “on the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel.”
But Republicans highlighted recent moves by the Biden administration to free up $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of a prisoner swap deal. The deal allows money to be transferred from a bank in South Korea to accounts in Qatar. The administration says the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes and that the US will monitor how and when the funds are used. There is still no evidence that any of that $6 billion left the Qatari account.
“Let’s be clear: the deal to bring American citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel. Not one penny has been spent, and when it is, it can only serve for humanitarian needs like food and medicine. Anything. to the contrary is false,” State Department spokesman Matt Miller said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Separately, a State Department spokesman said money from accounts in Qatar “stays in Doha.”
“Not one cent has been spent, and will never go to Iran; it can only be used for future humanitarian purposes. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading,” they said.
But critics have argued that the money is fungible and could be diverted elsewhere. Iran is a known supporter of Hamas and praised Saturday’s attacks on Israel. The Department of State has previously said Iran provides about $100 million a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Rockets are fired into Israel from Gaza, Saturday, October 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Republicans in both chambers highlighted the alleged link between the attacks and funding unfrozen by the Biden administration.
“This is exactly why so many Americans and Israelis were GLAD to see [President Biden] give the Iranian regime $6 billion last month,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, told X. “Every dollar given to Iran funds terrorism in the Ayatollah’s quest to destroy Israel . Iran is behind today’s invasion and everyone needs to say so.”
In the House, Rep. Dan Bishop, RNC, said Biden “just gave $6 billion to Iran, the sponsor of Hamas.”
“Today, innocent Israeli citizens have paid with their lives for their venal incompetence and that of Obama’s remnants,” he said.
“This is a clear attack on Israel. We must #StandWithIsrael fully to defend ourselves and stand strong on the front lines of terrorism,” posted Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. “We must act quickly to help Israel and reverse the damage of Biden’s 6 BB funding of an Iranian regime that supports each of the groups likely involved.”
On the campaign trail, Sen. Tim Scott, who is running for the 2024 GOP nomination for the White House, said the US “not only invited this aggression, we paid for it.”
“Iran is the biggest funder of Hamas. This is Biden’s $6 billion ransom payment at work,” he said.
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The White House also rejected the Republicans’ narrative, with Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates calling him a “shameful lie on all counts, at a time when both sides should be fully united in supporting Israel’s defense.”
“Not one cent has been spent – They will not go to the Iranian government – They can only be used for verifiable purchases of humanitarian needs like food and medicine,” he posted on X.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also rejected a connection between the unfrozen payments and the attacks. “These funds have absolutely nothing to do with today’s horrific attacks and this is not the time to spread misinformation,” Watson posted on X.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that the US “unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, including civilians and civilian communities.”
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“There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of israel, and convey our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks. We will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli partners. The United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself,” he said.
Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal, Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story has been updated.
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