Joe Biden has been accused of “enabling” Hamas terrorists after unlocking “billions of dollars” in funding to Iran, a US senator has said.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz blasted the president over his handling of the crisis as he spoke on the horrors of the Israel-Hamas war, claiming the Potus failed to enforce American sanctions on oil sales to Iran.
Biden, 80, delivered a poignant public address on Tuesday, condemning the “unadulterated evil” of Hamas’ terrorist attacks which have left hundreds dead in the region, including 14 Americans.
WATCH NOW: Biden pledges to stand with Israel
Israeli Defence Force officials are yet to confirm Iran's direct involvement with Hamas, saying “Iran is a major player but we can’t yet say if it was involved in the planning or training.”
“What is unfolding in Israel right now is truly horrific,” Cruz told US journalist Megyn Kelly.
“Since Joe Biden became president, he has flooded roughly $50billion (£40.5billion) to the government of Iran.
“Understand that Hamas, those terrorists, are raping, murdering, torturing and killing women and children, they work for Iran. They are Iranian proxies. They are paid for and work for Iran.
“How did Joe Biden send $50billion to Iran? Well most recently, he sent $6billion (£4.87billion) that was explicitly on its face a ransom for five Americans who had been kidnapped.
“In doing so he set a price that the going price for kidnapping an American is $1-2billion.
US LATEST:
Speaking from the White House today, Biden’s speech marked an end to three days of silence on the war, having only spoken publically about the conflict once during a short video since it began over the weekend.
Reuters
“But it wasn’t just the £6billion because just a few weeks earlier the Biden administration sent an additional $10billion (£8.12billion) that was money coming from Iraq and sent it to Iran.”
The White House hit back against claims the $6billion used for the Iran prisoner swap was used to fund Hamas, with a treasury spokesperson confirming the funds are still in restricted accounts in Qatar.
Cruz continued to claim that Biden has refused to enforce the American sanction on oil sales.
“Even that [$16billion] understates it, because the Biden administration refused to enforce the American sanctions on oil sales.
“The most effective thing we’ve done against Iran is sanction their oil sales which have crippled their economy and brought their economy to its knees.
“That money is paying for the rockets that are murdering Israelis.”
Israel attacks: Over 1,000 people have died amid Hamas conflictGETTYSpeaking from the White House today, Biden’s speech marked an end to three days of silence on the war, having only spoken publically about the conflict once during a short video since it began over the weekend.
Critics blasted Biden’s response as sluggish and branded the octogenarian as “missing in action”.
Addressing reporters while flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden listed the atrocities of the terrorist group and gave an update on American casualties.
“You know there are moments in this life — I mean this literally — when a pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world,” Biden unleashed.
“The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend, the bloody hands of the terrorist organization Hamas, a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews.
“This was an act of sheer evil.”
