Title: Florida Governor DeSantis Opposes Accepting Refugees from Gaza amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: Creston, Iowa
In a campaign stop in Iowa, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his opposition to the United States accepting refugees from the Gaza Strip, where Israel is engaged in a war with the militant group Hamas. Governor DeSantis, who is currently campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination, argued that the residents of Gaza, though not all affiliated with Hamas, are all antisemitic and do not believe in Israel’s right to exist.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has become a prominent issue in the GOP presidential race, with candidates seeking to underscore their staunch support for Israel. Governor DeSantis, along with other Republican contenders, has also criticized former President Donald Trump’s response to the conflict, particularly his remarks faulting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and praising another group attacking Israel as “very smart.”
Governor DeSantis has placed significant emphasis on the Israel-Hamas conflict in recent weeks. During a campaign speech in Creston, Iowa, he reiterated his concerns and suggested that Arab states should provide refuge for the people from Gaza instead of bringing them to the United States. He firmly stated, “You don’t fly people and import them into the United States of America.”
Israeli officials have issued a mass-evacuation order to over one million Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip as they continue their assault on Hamas through airstrikes and plan a potential ground assault. However, neighboring Egypt has kept its border closed to Gaza refugees due to political and security concerns. Furthermore, the United Nations has criticized Israel’s evacuation order as unworkable.
As governor of Florida, DeSantis has taken action to assist Florida residents in Israel by arranging flights and delivering supplies in light of major passenger airlines halting their services. The federal government is also working alongside DeSantis to evacuate American citizens from the conflict zone, with the first flights from Israel to Florida expected to arrive on Sunday.
In addition to addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict, Governor DeSantis has seized the opportunity to advocate for stricter restrictions on migrants crossing the U.S. border with Mexico. By linking the recent terrorist attacks by Hamas to the southern border, he has emphasized the importance of enhanced border security.
Former President Donald Trump has echoed DeSantis’ concerns, claiming that the same individuals responsible for the attacks in Israel are crossing the southern border “at record numbers.” However, according to Alex Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute, who has studied crime and immigration data, there is little evidence to support these claims. Only three out of the nine foreign-born terrorists who entered the country illegally from 1975 to last year crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.
It is worth noting that Meryl Kornfield contributed to this report.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, it remains to be seen how the stance taken by Governor Ron DeSantis and other Republican candidates will impact the GOP presidential race and national discussions on immigration and refugee policies.