U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., is championing a proposal for a “moratorium for all American aid to Gaza and the Palestinian-controlled West Bank” and “to return to the Trump administration’s policy of prohibiting funds from being deployed to Palestinian-controlled areas.”
Mast brought out the proposal last week and offered his reasons for it.
“President Trump got it right. He refused to bankroll terrorist organizations that kill Americans and our allies and it’s astounding that Joe Biden reversed that policy,” said Mast. “Anyone who thinks that every dollar sent to Gaza right now isn’t going straight into Hamas’ pocket is delusional. We’ve already seen reports of Hamas fighters stealing fuel and food boxes intended for children – why would we continue to send money to an enemy that is engaged in a literal fight to the death with our ally, Israel?”
The congressman’s office also expanded on the bill.
“In 2018, the Trump administration reallocated dollars from the Department of State’s Economic Support Fund and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to ‘ensure these funds are spent in accordance with U.S. national interests and provide value to the U.S. taxpayer.’ Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, continues to engage in war crimes, including the bombing of a hospital and torture of civilians, and absolutely no U.S. tax dollars should be financing the atrocities either directly or indirectly,” Mast’s office noted.
So far, there are no co-sponsors in the U.S. House and no companion bill over in the U.S. Senate.
