“It’s a line we’ve heard in countless movies and TV shows: ‘We do not negotiate with terrorists!’ Yet, according to a report from NBC, that line no longer holds true. As my colleague Ed Morrissey aptly put it: ‘Old and busted: America doesn’t negotiate with terrorists. New hotness: We’d rather cut a deal with terrorists than support our ally.’
NBC reports that the Biden administration is considering a deal to secure the release of five Americans held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, along with the remains of three deceased hostages. This potential negotiation would exclude Israel and be mediated through Qatari intermediaries, bypassing our staunchest ally in the Middle East.
This is the same administration that has consistently fumbled foreign policy decisions. It’s astonishing that Biden would risk further alienating Israel at such a critical time. NBC notes that officials are unsure what the U.S. might offer Hamas in exchange for the hostages, but they speculate that Hamas could see this as an opportunity to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Israel, putting more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The timing of this potential deal is particularly questionable, especially after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) daringly rescued four hostages over the weekend. Instead of supporting Israel’s efforts, the White House is contemplating a backdoor negotiation with terrorists, essentially rewarding Hamas for their actions on October 7th and undermining Israel’s security.
CENTCOM’s distancing from the positive news of the IDF’s rescue operation further highlights this administration’s problematic stance. Rather than standing firm with Israel, Biden and his team seem intent on making decisions that alienate our allies and embolden our enemies.
Ed Morrissey rightfully calls out the Biden administration’s actions as both despicable and incredibly foolish. Rewarding Hamas for their atrocities while punishing Israel is a gross miscalculation. This move adds to Biden’s extensive list of foreign policy failures. As former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said a decade ago, Biden has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy issue for the past four decades. Now, with his handling of Israel, we can extend that to five decades. His treatment of our closest ally in the Middle East is nothing short of shameful and misguided.”
