Title: Hawley questions Mayorkas on DHS employee’s support for Hamas terror attack
Date: November 01, 2023, 09:27 AM
In a heated exchange, Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri confronted Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the employment of a DHS worker who openly praised terrorists. The incident involved the employee celebrating the Hamas terror attack, which took place on October 7, resulting in multiple casualties.
The attack, which targeted Israeli army bases, civilian communities, and a music festival, saw Hamas paragliders carrying out acts of violence that claimed the lives of teenagers and young adults. The Chicago Black Lives Matter chapter even shared a graphic on social media, featuring a paraglider adorned with the Palestinian flag and the words, “I Stand With Palestine.”
Senator Hawley raised concerns about the DHS employee’s support for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people, questioning the Secretary on his opinion about such extreme rhetoric. Quoting various social media posts, Hawley brought to attention comments like “F Israel, the government and its military, are you ready for your downfall?” and “F Israel and any Jew who supports Israel. May your conscience haunt your dreams until your last breath. Palestine will be free one day. F apartheid Israel.”
Secretary Mayorkas attempted to distinguish between “espousing or endorsing terrorist ideology” and offensive speech. However, Hawley revealed that the employee in question was under the employment of the Department of Homeland Security and precisely made these comments on October 7.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Hawley mentioned that the employee had also shared a fabricated graphic featuring a Hamas paraglider armed with a machine gun flying into Israel, accompanied by the caption, “Free PALESTINE.”
Questioning whether this individual’s actions were representative of DHS employees as a whole, Hawley received a strong denouncement from Secretary Mayorkas, who called the implication “despicable.” In response, Hawley pressed further, asking if the worker had been dismissed.
The exchange between Senator Hawley and Secretary Mayorkas underscores the growing concerns about the presence of individuals with extremist views within government organizations. It remains to be seen how DHS will address this matter, and whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the employee in question.
(Fox News Digital’s Alexander Hall contributed to this update)