The release of two hostages taken by Hamas was cause for concern for one presidential candidate who warned the White House “Don’t fall for it.”
“This is a time to be smart.”
(Video: Fox News)
Following President Joe Biden’s bungled trip to the Middle East, where he was snubbed by Jordan and doxxed special operators, and his address to the nation that had him calling for continued financial support for Ukraine over Israel, Hamas made a show of releasing two American Israeli hostages.
The mother-daughter duo of Judith and Natalie Raanan of the Chicago area were reportedly released “on humanitarian grounds” after Qatar intervened, a point which former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley called out as part of an effort to “earn favor with the United States.
Joining Fox News host Sandra Smith on “America Reports” Friday, the former ambassador and 2024 GOP presidential hopeful began by acknowledging that prayers had been answered with the release of the Raanans, but that around 200 more hostages remained in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel that resulted in the slaughter of more than 1,400 people.
“The second thing I’ll say to the Biden administration is, don’t fall for it,” warned Haley. “This is — you know I have dealt with Qatar in terms of trying to get hostages or actually hostage bodies out of Gaza. This is what they do. They’re trying to earn favor with the United States.”
Laying out Hamas’ concern about a ground war with Israel in Gaza and Iran’s concern about what Israeli victory would look like, Haley suggested the hostage release was an attempt at leveraging position with America and that, “…they’re going to throw two hostages out there for one to see if they can weaken us to keep Israel from going into Gaza.”
For her, it clearly indicated that Biden officials had been in conversation with Qatar to make that intervention happen, but she warned against the United States being so readily placated after the atrocities that were committed.
“This is a time to be smart. Go in smart. Don’t let this weaken us. Don’t fall for it. We’ve got 200 more hostages in there,” reminded Haley. “And don’t forget what happened on Oct. 7. They want everybody to forget. We can never forget. Israel needs to stay focused, determined and America needs to have their back.”
The former South Carolina governor’s support for Israel was ostensibly demonstrated by the sweater worn during the interview that included a riff on an Israeli paratrooper unit, Sayeret Matkal, that states “Who Dares Wins.”
In line with her campaign messaging, Haley’s sweater denoted, “She Who Dares Wins.”
Smith also brought up support from the progressive Democrat “Squad” that many have characterized as pro-Hamas, particularly from Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib who had doubled down on a readily debunked claim made against Israel about the alleged bombing of a hospital as she made further demands toward a ceasefire. This included her being accused of leading “insurrectionists” on Capitol Hill Wednesday.
Rashida Tlaib doubles down on debunked Gaza hospital lie in angry tear-soaked rant https://t.co/93yFtn4ZNz via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) October 19, 2023
“The squad acts like the terrorists,” Haley reacted. “Here they are, and they’re basically mimicking pro-Hamas comments. They refuse to acknowledge the bloodshed and the torture and the terrorists that have caused all of this.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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