AMAC Exclusive – By Andrew Shirley
Just before Christmas, Hamas ruled out any further hostage releases until Israel agrees to a “full cessation of aggression,” deepening a crisis that began when the terrorist group seized more than 200 civilians during their initial assault on October 7. Hamas’s unwillingness to negotiate may be due in large part to President Joe Biden’s decision to bribe Iran with $6 billion in frozen funds to release five hostages back in September, setting the precedent that the United States, which Hamas views as Israel’s puppet master, can be bullied into giving Hamas what it wants.
In late November, the two sides brokered a fragile ceasefire that allowed for an exchange of hostages, including the release of several American citizens. However, on December 1, Hamas violated the agreement by launching rockets into southern Israel, touching off another round of hostilities that has since claimed hundreds more lives.
There are currently still at least eight Americans unaccounted for and presumed to be held captive by Hamas. On December 13, Joe Biden held a meeting with the families of these hostages at the White House. In a follow-up post on X, Biden pledged to “continue doing everything possible to secure the release of their family members.”
However, neither Biden nor anyone in his administration has taken any responsibility for the fact that their actions have directly encouraged the hostage-taking practices Hamas is now engaging in.
Less than two months before Hamas began its assault on Israel, the Biden administration announced that it would be releasing five Iranians held in the United States and unfreezing $6 billion in exchange for five Americans held prisoner by Iran. The money, funds from oil sales, was being held in a South Korean bank.
At the time, Biden touted the deal as a major win for his administration. “Today, five innocent Americans who were imprisoned in Iran are finally coming home,” the president said in a statement. The administration also assured the public that the $6 billion in funds could only be used for certain approved purposes like humanitarian aid and the purchase of food or medicine, and that similar deals had been struck by prior administrations.
However, as even liberal MSNBC noted, “What’s different this time is that Biden and his team are making no secret of the link between the funds unblocked for Iran and the freedom of five imprisoned Americans, explicitly acknowledging the trade-off.”
Congressional Republicans were quick to slam the deal as a blatant capitulation to a terrorist regime. In a post on X, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stated, “I am always glad when Americans are released from captivity… However, this agreement will entice rogue regimes, like Iran, to take even more Americans hostage. The ayatollah and his henchmen are terrorists and truly represent a terrorist state.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the chair of the House Republican Conference, likewise said on X that Biden’s policies are “emboldening our adversaries while putting Americans’ safety and security at risk.” Senator John Thune (R-SD) added that because of Biden’s actions, “the price to release U.S. hostages will only go up.”
Former President Donald Trump also pointed out how ludicrous the deal was in a post on Truth Social. “So, let’s get this straight! We did a hostage TRADE with Iran. We gave them 5 very tough, smart people that they desperately wanted. We likewise got back 5 people BUT, we also gave them 6 BILLION DOLLARS!” Trump wrote, further calling the deal a “terrible precedent.”
The Biden administration was quick to respond and insist that the $6 billion could only be used for approved purposes – despite the fact that Iran has repeatedly skirted such requirements in the past to fund their terrorist proxy networks like Hamas. As The Wall Street Journal reported last month, Iran had been funneling huge sums of money to Hamas in the months leading up to October’s attack.
House Republicans also took action just after Thanksgiving by passing a measure that would block Iran from ever accessing the $6 billion – a bill that 90 Democrats voted for as well.
In remarks on the House floor, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) declared, “$6 billion for Iran is $6 billion for Hamas,” going on to say, “the idea that you would be negotiating in August or September to help Iran get $6 billion boggles the mind, prior to the invasion and attacks on Israel. After the attacks, the administration should be joining us in supporting this bill.” Notably, the White House has not supported the bill, nor has the Senate offered any indication that they plan to bring it forward for a vote.
Republican warnings have proved prescient as Hamas now refuses to engage in any further negotiations with either Israel or the United States over the release of hostages. Given that many of the hostages Hamas has released have shown signs of torture and sexual abuse, there is no telling what horrors the Americans still held captive inside Gaza are facing.
Biden’s ham-fisted approach to hostage negotiations with Iran unwittingly told the world how much each U.S. citizen is worth. Now, Hamas is following Tehran’s lead, and Americans as well as our Israeli allies are suffering.
Andrew Shirley is a veteran speechwriter and AMAC Newsline columnist. His commentary can be found on X at @AA_Shirley.
