More than 1200 rockets were fired into Israel from Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip this week; raising new questions over how the jihadi organizations are funded from countries around the world -including the United States.
An often-forgotten report from 2017 shows the Obama administration sending hundreds of millions of dollars to the groups in the “final hours” of his presidency.
“Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking,” writes the Associated Press in January 2017.
“A State Department official and several congressional aides said the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning. The official said former Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday. The aides said written notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office,” adds the AP.
“In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said. The aides and the State Department official weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity,” states the outlet.
Read the original story here.
'IT WAS IRAN': Israel Says TEHRAN Behind Gaza Mortar Barrage
Israeli officials publicly blamed Iran for the recent mortar attack on southern Israel Wednesday, saying Tehran was the “culprit” behind the barrage that included 180 Iranian-manufactured shells.
According to the Jerusalem Post, IDF Spokesperson Ronen Manelis confirmed the mortar shells were produced inside the Islamic Republic and smuggled into the region by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
“Despite Israel’s intelligence superiority over terror groups, as well a blockade imposed both by the IDF and Egypt, Hamas and other terror groups in the Strip have restocked their supply of weapons in the four years since the last round of fighting between Israel and Hamas,” writes the Post.
“The mass-produced Iranian mortar shells used in Tuesday’s salvos were also used by Islamic Jihad in an attack in January and in a barrage 12 mortar shells fired toward an army outpost in November,” adds the author.
The revelation raises new questions over Iran’s influence in the region as the United States urges western allies and other nations to help clampdown on Tehran’s nuclear program.
AOC EXPLODES: Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Biden for Saying Israel Can ‘Defend Itself’ from Rocket Attacks
Controversial Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped the Biden administration for stating Israel “has the right to defend itself” Wednesday night, claiming the United States “looks the other way” on human rights violations in the Middle East.
“Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong,” posted AOC on Twitter.
Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong. https://t.co/afCgoGdiMG
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 12, 2021
Images leaked on social media Wednesday showing Israeli doctors and parents shielding newborn babies in a fortified section of a local hospital as rockets rained down on cities across the country.
“Israeli hospitals take newborns into special protection area to protect from terrorists rocket fire. Heartbreaking!” posted a reporter from the Jerusalem Post.
Israeli hospitals take newborns into special protection area to protect from terrorists rocket fire.
Heartbreaking! pic.twitter.com/JJzlTlW9LS
— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) May 11, 2021
Violent clashes erupted in cities across the United States this week between pro-Israel and Palestinian groups after 700 rockets were fired into the Jewish State from Gaza and other locations in the Middle East.
“Groups on each side clashed in New York City in front of the Israeli consulate where police officers struggled to keep aggressive demonstrators from attacking each other. Physical fights broke out among some of the activists, videos on social media show,” reports Fox News.
A pro-Palestine protest in Washington DC, USA. pic.twitter.com/8zIw6moCWM
— Observer (@byz_observer) May 11, 2021
This video taken by @CBSNewYork Photographer Alex Susskind moments ago pic.twitter.com/24RVAo06fG
— Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) May 11, 2021
Clashes at a rally of supporters of Israel and Palestine in New York. pic.twitter.com/Pz7iFGTvJP
— Observer (@byz_observer) May 11, 2021
“My mother lives on the edge of Gaza,” pro-Israeli protester Sophie Sassoon told WCBS-TV in New York. “She’s in a shelter as we speak … This is war. I will not sit and watch the only democracy in the Middle East be ripped apart.”
“You can see Israeli aggression especially in Northern Jerusalem and Gaza,” attendee Sami Wassef told the outlet. “Houses are being confiscated and families thrown out.”
Read the full report at Fox News.
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