A group of 34 Republican senators, led by Sen. Joni Ernst, wrote a letter to President Biden demanding that his administration halt any plans to potentially accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza. This action was prompted by a CBS News report suggesting that the Biden administration was considering allowing Palestinian refugees from Gaza into the U.S. There was concern among the senators regarding the administration’s ability to adequately vet this high-risk population for terrorist ties and sympathies before admitting them into the country.
The White House, in response to the report, stated that they have helped over 1,800 American citizens and their families leave Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, as well as vulnerable individuals such as children with serious health problems. They emphasized that the U.S. rejects any actions that would lead to the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank. However, there was no direct confirmation of the CBS report from the White House, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not address questions regarding the number of Palestinians the administration plans to relocate or whether the U.S. would help transport them from Gaza.
Fox News confirmed with a State Department official that any visas granted to Gaza refugees with U.S. citizen relatives would not be through a new program or signify a shift in policy. Rather, the official noted that it would align with existing policy toward Palestinians in the region. The Republican senators expressed concern about the lack of access to Gazans in the region for thorough vetting, especially given that Hamas was voted into power by Gazans in 2006. They also pointed out the risk of admitting terrorists into the country, citing encounters with individuals on the FBI’s terror watch list at the U.S. southern border.
Amidst anti-Israel protests at universities and concerns about admitting refugees from Gaza, the Republican senators emphasized the need for the Biden administration to focus on securing the release of U.S. hostages. They called on President Biden to provide answers on how many refugees he plans to accept and how his administration will implement a screening mechanism to prevent individuals with terrorist links or sympathies from entering the U.S. The senators stressed that the priority should be on rescuing American citizens before considering the admission of Gazan refugees.
The letter from the Republican senators underscored the need for caution and thorough vetting in admitting refugees from Gaza, particularly in light of concerns about terrorist ties and sympathies among the population. As anti-Israel protests and violence continue to escalate, the senators urged President Biden to prioritize the safety and security of U.S. citizens, including those held hostage abroad. The State Department did not immediately respond to the senators’ demand for further clarification on the issue of potential relocation of Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
