DeSantis vows to admit ‘zero’ people from Gaza, anyone else who is antisemitic, ‘anti-American’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed he would accept “zero” people from Gaza if he were president, as a result of the war between the terrorist group Hamas and Israel.
Israel was victim of brutal terror attacks beginning earlier in October.
“You’re now starting to hear some people on the left say that if people – Palestinian Arabs – are leaving Gaza, that the United States should bring in, potentially, hundreds of thousands of people from Gaza,” DeSantis said at a campaign event.
The governor said that in general, anyone who is “anti-Semitic, anti-American” or has “other toxic views,” that “they should not be admitted.”
“I can tell you this: as president, the number of people we will bring in from Gaza is zero. We are not going to do that,” he continued.
“I’ve been very clear: The U.S. should not be absorbing any Gaza refugees,” DeSantis also said on Sunday. “Neighboring Arab nations should open their borders and absorb them.”
Speaking on Face the Nation, the host pressed DeSantis for recently indicating that “all” of the people residing under Hamas are “antisemitic.”
“But, how can you paint with such a broad brush, to say 2.3 million people are antisemitic?” he was asked.
“So, they elected Hamas,” DeSantis replied. “Not everyone is a member of Hamas, most probably aren’t, but they did elect Hamas.”
“They teach kids to hate Jews. The textbooks do not have Israel even on the map. They prepare very young kids to commit terrorist attacks,” he continued. “I think it’s a toxic culture.”
“I think if we were to import large numbers of those to the United States, I think it would increase anti Semitism in this country,” DeSantis said.
Vocally supportive of Israel, DeSantis signed an executive order last week that would enable the chartering of planes to rescue Americans in Israel.
Sunday evening, the first plane charted by Florida arrived in Tampa with nearly 300 saved Americans.
“There was a devoid of leadership, so we stepped up and led,” DeSantis said in a video at the airport. “[We are welcoming] them back to the United States of America.”
DeSantis thanked Project Dynamo for helping rescue the citizens from the war-ridden region after Hamas launched brutal terror attacks on Israel.
Project Dynamo says it conducts operations “where the U.S. government lacks access or a presence” to rescue “vulnerable populations.”
DeSantis said the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard have been ordered to be activated “as needed” to assist in responding to the emergency.
Also over the weekend, the DeSantis administration urged Americans “stranded in Athens” to fill out an online form: “We may be able to assist you.”
The executive order signed by DeSantis grants Florida agencies broad budgeting and execution authority in helping rescue Americans abroad. It extends for at least 60 days.
