Republicans have been fiercely critical of the Biden Administration's treatment of Israel as the Jewish State wars with Hamas, providing aid but attempting to impose restrictions simultaneously. In a recent appearance on Fox News Sunday, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) made similar statements against the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, who host an American military base yet also shelters the leadership of Hamas.
Host Shannon Bream noted that the Biden Administration still intends to send weapons and other supplies to Israel "despite pressure from the left." Sen. Scott agreed "This is a long fight," yet while the focus remains on destroying Hamas, "why isn't the Biden Administration doing anything to get these hostages out? Why isn't the Biden Administration doing anything to hold Qatar accountable?"
Bream further pointed out that former adviser to President Donald Trump Richard Goldberg recently condemned Qatar as "playing all sides" in the Israel-Hamas war, hosting the political leaders of the terror organization while simultaneously benefiting from its relationship with the United States.
"There has long been a need for a moment of choosing where the Qataris have to decide that they are a U.S. ally, and not the modern-day Swiss banker to the Nazis who are going to play all sides, take from the United States strategic and economic benefits, and then provide strategic and economic benefits to the enemies of the United States at the same time," The Jewish Insider quoted Goldberg.
Sen. Scott replied in support of Goldberg's statement, saying Qatar must "put everything on the table," questioning why the United States maintains a base in the country despite knowing Hamas' leadership lives there.
"Qatar right now could tell Hamas, 'You will be leaving the country unless these hostages are released today.' And guess what? Those hostages would be released today," Scott continued, condemning the Gulf state for not making this ultimatum.
Moreover, he could not understand why the United States allowed Qatar, as a supposed ally, to continue sheltering the leaders of Hamas. "How do you have a military base in the same place where your enemy is being hosted by the government? How can we do that?"
In October, days after the horrific October 7th attacks Hamas orchestrated that killed 1,200 Israelis, House Democrats, and Republicans banded together to urge the Biden Administration to take stronger action against Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas, and condemned Qatar for allowing Ismail Haniyeh, a major leader of the terror organization, to live in their country.
