House Republican Mike Walz says Biden’s threat to suspend weapons is for ‘political reasons’

Republican Rep. Mike Walz of Florida claimed Sunday that President Biden’s threat to halt arms arms to Israel was politically motivated, less than six months before the November election.

“Given the reality that we’re in an election year now and the election is just six months away…I think there’s some kind of political and operational reality there. But…he certainly They’re withholding aid from the United States, and obviously they’re doing it for political reasons,” Walz said Sunday in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”

Walz’s remarks came days after Biden threatened to halt supplies of bombs, artillery shells and other offensive weapons to Israel if the Israeli military launches a full-scale invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza. The White House has repeatedly warned against sending troops to Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have fled amid the civil war.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has insisted that the push into Rafah is necessary to eliminate the Hamas threat, and Israel ordered new evacuations in the southern city over the weekend.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is one of the main aid agencies providing food, shelter and medicine to Palestinians. Said “At least” 300,000 people will be affected by the new evacuation order.

NewsNation anchor Chris Stilwald said the United States has a “responsibility” to monitor and direct how allies use weapons provided to them.

“Yes, of course. We monitor the use of weapons around the world,” Walz said. “But in this case, if you look… I mean, he’s making this kind of ridiculous distinction. In fact, he’s also successfully developed offensive and defensive weapons for the Ukraine conflict. ”

The Florida Republican argued that Biden’s threat may be counterintuitive.

“Mr. Biden will not get what he wants. It will only anger Israel supporters who, like me, believe that Hamas must be destroyed. That they will survive another day. “And I don’t think that would result in a reasonable resolution,” Walz said.

The Hill has contacted the White House for further comment.

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