The Role of Iran in Supporting Hamas
Iran has long been a staunch supporter of Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization engaged in a war with Israel. Earlier this year, the Biden administration unfroze $6 billion in Iranian funds from banks in South Korea to Qatar in a prisoner exchange. However, following the recent Hamas attacks, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed confidence that Iran wouldn’t receive a dime of the unfrozen funds.
The Response of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
Schumer’s office did not respond to inquiries about whether he would take up the bill passed by the House to re-freeze the Iranian funds. Although Schumer has been a vocal supporter of Israel, condemning anti-Israel protests and rejecting calls for a cease-fire during the war, it remains unclear whether he will support efforts to prevent Iran from accessing the unfrozen funds.
Rising Antisemitism in America
In a Senate floor speech, Schumer, who is the top Jewish lawmaker in Congress, condemned the rising antisemitism in America following the Hamas attack on Israel. He highlighted the alarming statistics that Jewish Americans, who represent only 2% of the population, are the targets of 55% of all religion-based hate crimes recorded by the FBI.
Schumer emphasized that hate crimes against Jewish Americans have skyrocketed after the Hamas attack, and the initial solidarity received from fellow citizens was quickly overshadowed by other voices. He expressed concern about people justifying the brutal terrorist attack and even celebrating it as the deserved fate of Israeli “colonizers.”
Iran’s Involvement in the Hamas Massacre
A think tank report by the Middle East Media Research Institute revealed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the ruler of Iran, had an organized plan to aid Hamas in the massacre of 1,300 people, including 30 Americans. The report stated that Khamenei hinted at “the complete conquest” on two different occasions in 2022 and 2023. It also claimed that the late Iranian global terrorist Qassem Soleimani had engineered the plan in 2020.
UN Official’s Controversial Meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister
A top United Nations humanitarian aid official, Martin Griffiths, faced criticism after sharing an image on X (formerly Twitter) showing him shaking hands with Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian. The foreign minister reportedly played a role in helping Hamas plan the October 7th terrorist attack. The meeting between Griffiths and Amirabdollahian discussed the need for aid in the Gaza Strip, which was heavily affected by the conflict.
Overall, Iran’s support for Hamas and the rise of antisemitism in America are concerning issues that need attention and action to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish communities and promote peace in the region.