DeSantis Compares Terrorist Attack on Israel to 9/11

Governor Ron DeSantis took to the megaphone today on a campaign stop in Iowa to condemn the unprecedented terrorist attack against Israel that took place this morning.

"Today, America stands with Israel," said DeSantis to an overflow audience. "Against the terrorist attack that is being perpetrated by Hamas, who is backed by Iran, and unfortunately funded by this American President with what he's done to Iran. It's a disgrace."

DeSantis said Israel has a right and duty to defend themselves.

"We all need to be united to say to Israel," said DeSantis. "Not only do they have a right to defend themselves, they have a duty to respond to these terrorists with overwhelming force. They will have my support 100% as the next President of the United States."

More than 5,000 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel this morning, Hamas' armed wing said, declaring it had started "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". As of the publishing of this story, 300 Israelis are reported dead with 1450 injured and 50 kidnapped including families, women and children according to Jewish Press.

DeSantis later clarified that he was referring to the $6 billion in frozen Iran funds that were unfrozen by the Biden Administration on September 11, 2023 in a prisoner swap deal. The deal allowed the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar without the threat of U.S. sanctions. Biden says this money will be limited to humanitarian aide, but opponents disagree.

"Biden just gave Hamas sponsor Iran $6 billion. Today, innocent Israeli citizens have paid with their lives for his and the Obama holdovers' venal incompetence," posted GOP North Carolina Congressman Dan Bishop.

DeSantis, who warned last month that this money would be used to fund terrorism, said Iran probably saw the $6 Billion coming so they figured they could use other funds for the attack.

"We also have a situation where their policy in the Biden Administration has been to play nice with Iran," DeSantis told Floridian publisher Javier Manjarres who is covering the campaign in Iowa. "I hear people say that $6 Billion wasn't used. Money is fungible. So yes I'm sure those exact dollars weren't. They knew that was coming. That frees up other money. Of course they are funding Hamas and Hezbollah in big ways."

DeSantis compared the attacks to September 11, 2001.

"This is the equivalent for Israel of probably what happened in the United States on September 11," said DeSantis. "This is probably the worst attack Israel has faced since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. It is important in America we all acknowledge and support their right to defend themselves."

The attacks began around 6:30am Israeli time and 11:30pm on Friday night, New York City time. Biden did not make a statement until 3:30pm EST today. That is a 16-hour time gap.

"The United States stands with Israel," said Biden at a press conference. "We will not ever fail to have their back."

DeSantis said Biden was "sleeping on the job."

"[Biden] said that he was up at 7:30 in the morning, but this was happening late last night," said DeSantis. "The president needs to be there answering the call when our top ally in the Middle East is under the gun.”

"Since this morning, the State of Israel has been at war," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore the security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked."