Hagerty overstates time it took Biden to support Israel’s response
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tennessee, is blasting President Joe Biden’s response to the Hamas attack on Israel and its aftermath, saying America must ensure the terror group goes “out of business.”
“It took 48 hours for Biden to acknowledge Israel had a right to defend itself,” Hagerty charged over the weekend, an apparent exaggeration of the elapsed time.
Hagerty made his remarks about Biden during an address Sunday to Republicans attending the annual Boots & Jeans, BBQ & Beans event hosted by state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin.
“We have an administration that’s willing to sell out Israel at every turn,” Hagerty said.
Hagerty, a former https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2019/jul/12/trump-announces-endorses-bill-hagerty-bid-senate/ U.S. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2019/jul/12/trump-announces-endorses-bill-hagerty-bid-senate/ ambassador to Japan and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. must stand and support U.S. allies like Israel.
“We need to support Israel, making certain that Hamas is out of business once and for all,” Hagerty added.
The Hamas attack began at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 7 in Israel, when it was 11:30 p.m. Oct. 6 in Washington. Fifteen hours later, Biden made remarks in the state dining room at the White House.
“Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas,” Biden said. “In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. We’ll make sure they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves.
“Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Full stop,” he added.
Hagerty’s office did not respond to a request to explain why he stated that Biden took 48 hours to make that statement.
Hamas’s attack caught Israeli officials and the military off guard. Hamas fighters seized more than 200 hostages, a dozen of whom are Americans.
“The Israeli strategy has been to choke it off until they hand hostages back,” Hagerty said. “What’s the Biden strategy? Let’s go ahead and send $100 million of aid in there and say pretty please on getting our hostages. You all know this. Peace only comes through strength. The world needs a strong America now more than ever before. You will see me standing for strength for a strong America at every turn.”
Biden announced last week the U.S. is providing humanitarian assistance for the https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/oct/21/egypts-border-crossing-opens-to-let-a-trickle-of-desperately-needed-aid-into-besieged-gaza-tfp/ Palestinian https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/oct/21/egypts-border-crossing-opens-to-let-a-trickle-of-desperately-needed-aid-into-besieged-gaza-tfp/ people in Gaza and the https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/oct/21/egypts-border-crossing-opens-to-let-a-trickle-of-desperately-needed-aid-into-besieged-gaza-tfp/ West Bank. It’s intended to help for more than a million displaced and “conflict-affected” people with clean water, food, hygiene, medical care and other essential needs. The administration said it is providing aid through “trusted partners,” including United Nations agencies.
Civilians aren’t to blame and shouldn’t suffer for Hamas’s “horrific terrorism,” Biden said.
“We mourn every innocent life lost,” Biden said in speech Friday. “We can’t ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity.”