The Israel-Hamas war rages on, and the United States has been sending mixed signals. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) issued a statement recently after Senate Democrats began discussing putting "conditions" on sending aid to the embattled Jewish State, saying, "no further conditions on Israel aid until Hamas is destroyed."
The Wall Street Journal provided additional context, describing how Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) called the level of civilian casualties incurred in the ongoing war "unacceptable" and suggested Hamas can be defeated while minimizing casualties. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) similarly called for "an end to indiscriminate bombing." The exact wording used in Senate Democrats' proposal is simply, "follow international law," which Israel already does. President Biden gave this idea further credence when he said this was "a worthwhile thought."
In essence, a well-meaning desire to reduce civilian casualties, which Israel has already been doing, could further hamstring their ability to destroy Hamas to the latter's advantage.
Sen. Scott called this "unacceptable and un-American," further saying it was "disgusting" and "embarrassing" for Senate Democrats to propose such conditions for aid when Israel's very survival is at stake, especially in the face of Hamas, who "brutally beheaded babies, burned people alive, raped and murdered young women and are STILL holding hundreds, including Americans, hostage" since October 7th.
"Enough is enough—no further conditions on Israel's aid until Hamas is destroyed," Sen. Scott concluded.
Senate Democrats previously voted down Scott's version of the $14 billion aid package to Israel passed by House Republicans, which offset funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Scott did not mince words against President Biden and the Democrats for blocking the bill, saying he was "sick and tired of Democrats, Biden, and Washington’s ruling class continuing to use crisis after crisis to push massive spending packages for issues that have no business being voted on together."
Last week, Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) similarly said, "The only way to lasting peace is through strength and the complete destruction of Hamas."
