Republican Congressman Michael Waltz condemns the Biden administration's alleged plan to undermine Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the move "absurd" and "ridiculous." He argues that Israel's ongoing military operation against Hamas in Rafah is essential to prevent the terrorist group from taking over more territory.
Amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, Republican Congressman Michael Waltz from Florida has vehemently criticized the Biden administration for its alleged plan to "take out" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Waltz has characterized the move as "absurd" and "ridiculous," highlighting the importance of Israel's ongoing military operation in Rafah against Hamas.
In an interview with "Life, Liberty & Levin," Waltz expressed his disapproval of the Biden administration's alleged intentions towards Netanyahu, emphasizing the critical role Israel plays in the Middle East region. He asserted that Israel is a "strong ally" and a "key partner" in the fight against terrorism.
Waltz's criticism stems from reports suggesting that the Biden administration is concerned about civilian casualties in Rafah, a Hamas stronghold where Israeli forces are conducting a military operation to destroy smuggling tunnels and eliminate terrorist threats. However, Waltz believes that this concern is misplaced, arguing that Israel's operation is necessary to prevent Hamas from gaining more territory and destabilizing the region.
According to Waltz, the terrorist mastermind behind Hamas's massacre of nearly 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans, is Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar is believed to be using hostages as human shields to deter Israeli soldiers from capturing him in a tunnel deep below Gaza.
Former U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff General Jack Keane revealed that Sinwar has approximately 15-20 hostages protecting him and his family. Keane emphasized that Israel is right to use military pressure to force the release of these hostages.
Israel's National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi revealed that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) came close to killing Sinwar in recent months. Hanegbi believes that Sinwar is "living on borrowed time" and that he "won't emerge alive from this confrontation."
The IDF is reportedly offering a $400,000 bounty for Sinwar's capture. In December, Israel dropped leaflets on Gaza, offering rewards for information about the location of Hamas's top leadership.
Waltz emphasized that Hamas retains four battalions in Rafah, along with thousands of terrorist fighters. The complex negotiations unfolding in Cairo may slow down Israel's efforts to eliminate Hamas from the city, which is home to over a million Palestinians.
David Wurmser, a former senior adviser for nonproliferation and Middle East strategy for former Vice President Dick Cheney, described Sinwar's use of hostages as a "rational strategy" to advance his goals. Wurmser highlighted that Sinwar has no empathy for the hostages and views them as merely a means to protect himself.
Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute and former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, described Sinwar as "crafty" and "ruthless." He believes that Sinwar has effectively used the hostages to achieve his goals and has outmaneuvered the IDF in their attempts to capture or kill him.
Waltz concluded by reiterating his belief that the Biden administration's alleged plan to undermine Netanyahu is "absurd" and that Israel's operation in Rafah is crucial to neutralize Hamas and protect civilians from further attacks.
