Trump urged to sanction Iran, Hamas to cut off terrorists’ funding

• Five bipartisan Senators want President Trump to sanction Iran and its proxies to cut off Hamas’ funding. They say the terrorist organization cannot remain in control of the Gaza Strip.
• Israel said the ceasefire with Hamas will end if all remaining hostages aren’t released by Saturday.
• Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement by engaging in military operations that resulted in deaths.

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Five bipartisan Senators are urging President Donald Trump to use economic sanctions and other diplomatic tools to cut off Hamas’ sources of funding. The senators say the terrorist organization cannot retain any political or military control of the Gaza Strip, as the fragile ceasefire with Israel is on the brink of collapse. 

“Eliminating Hamas ought to be common ground as a paramount goal,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. “Hamas is an anathema — to Palestinians and Israelis alike, indeed to all who live in the region.”

Sens. Blumenthal, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced the resolution calling on the president to take actions to stop Hamas’ sources of funding, specifically from Iran and Iranian proxies. The resolution also supports Israel’s defense against attacks. 

“One of the defining moments for the future of the Middle East and the world at large is to state directly and with moral clarity that Hamas –– a terrorist organization –– will no longer have political or military control of Gaza at the end of this conflict,” Graham said in a statement. 

The resolution was introduced shortly after Israel announced that its ceasefire with Hamas would end if all hostages were not returned by Saturday, Feb. 15. The ceasefire, which began Jan. 19, required Hamas to release all remaining hostages within six weeks. 

Hamas released a report on Tuesday, Feb. 11, claiming Israel had violated the ceasefire 269 times with military operations that resulted in 26 deaths. As a result, it said it would not move forward with a scheduled hostage release on Saturday. 

“Hamas is a terrorist organization backed by Iran, and it is responsible for committing the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust,” Sen. Rosen said in a statement. “In order to best ensure the safety and security of Israel, as well as the Palestinian people, Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in power in Gaza in any capacity.”

Previous Senate resolutions supporting Israel have been approved nearly unanimously.