DeSantis’ office slings at Biden over ‘giant lie’ that Palestinians want peace with Israel
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office scathed President Joe Biden for a “giant lie” that Hamas launched terror attacks on Israel because the group fears Israelis and Palestinians “living side by side in peace.”
“To continue down the path of terror, violence, killing, and war is to give Hamas what they seek,” Biden said in a post on social media Tuesday.
“This statement is a giant lie,” said Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis. “A large majority of Palestinians in Gaza support the October 7th terrorist attacks, and they don’t want a two-state solution. They don’t want Israel to exist.”
According to research from Arab World for Research and Development, as reported by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a strong majority of Palestinians support the Oct. 7 attacks and do not want to coexist with Israel.
“When Palestinians say ‘from the river to the sea…’ we should believe them,” Redfern said.
A poll reported by the Associated Press in 2021 also found a majority of Palestinians support Hamas.
Biden has been supportive of Israel while his administration has also sent aid to Gaza.
“Joe Biden just announced $100 million of your taxpayer dollars going to the Gaza Strip,” DeSantis said in October. “They say it’s humanitarian assistance. We know Hamas is going to commandeer that money, and Hamas is going to use it to advance terrorism.”
“I say no U.S. tax dollars to the Gaza Strip. We still have hostages being held by Hamas,” he said.
In a previous statement, the White House said they support humanitarian assistance for civilians who cannot be blamed for Hamas’ “horrific terrorism.”
DeSantis has been starkly pro-Israel since the escalation of the conflict in October.
He signed an executive order to provide flights for hundreds of Americans stuck in Israel.
DeSantis also recently signed a law to increase Jewish day school security funding, which was sponsored by Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, and Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami.
Another piece of legislation signed recently, as a result of a special session of the Florida Legislature, enacted heightened sanctions targeting Iran. That bill was sponsored by Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah Gardens.
