INDIANA, USA — As a humanitarian crisis unfolds ahead of an anticipated ground insurgency from the Israel Defense Forces, and millions of desperate civilians work to flee Gaza, the first rumblings of division are percolating among policymakers over what, if any, support the U.S. will give to Palestinian people seeking safety.
Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis was among the first lawmakers to flatly reject the possibility of the United States acting as a safe harbor for Palestinian civilians last weekend, saying at a campaign event that he would not support because Gazans were “all anti-Semitic.”
“As president, the number of people we will bring in from Gaza will be zero. We are not going to do that,” DeSantis said.
His controversial comments came a day prior to the governor’s own welcome of 300 U.S. citizens who were stranded in Israel when Hamas attacked. That flight was permitted from an executive order signed by DeSantis, which chartered free flights for Floridians needing safe transportation from Israel.
Fellow Floridian U.S. Senator Marco Rubio similarly called on the Biden Administration to cancel and rescind visas for foreign nationals who “endorse or espouse terrorist” organizations.
“America is the most generous nation on earth, but we cannot allow foreign nationals who support terrorist groups like Hamas and march in our streets calling for ‘intifada’ to enter or stay in our country,” Rubio said in a statement to the press on Thursday.
Their colleagues within the GOP remain poised to reject, or block outright, the possibility of refugee aid for Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, House Republicans introduced a bill to block Palestinian refugees from coming to the U.S. The GAZA, or Guaranteeing Aggressors Zero Admission Act, aims to prevent visas granted to people with Palestinian passports.
It’s legislation that would also prevent the Department of Homeland Security from allowing Palestinians into the United States through their parole program. The GAZA Act was introduced by Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minnesota, and Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, told 13News he will help sponsor the bill.
That Department of Homeland Security program allows people who are outside of the United States to request parole into the country based on “urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons”, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Conditions in Gaza have deteriorated, with shortages of clean water and food, to the point that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres cautioned the Middle East was on the “verge of the abyss.”
“To Hamas, the hostages must be released immediately without conditions. To Israel, rapid and unimpeded aid must be granted for humanitarian supplies and workers for the sake of the civilians in Gaza,” he said Saturday.
RELATED: Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms
The World Health Organization similarly cautioned evacuation “could be tantamount to a death sentence” for more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care.
Resistance on behalf of some Republicans to allow Palestinians into the U.S. as refugees comes as a few progressive push to allow them. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-New York, said on Saturday Palestinians should be welcomed into the U.S., according to The New York Post.
“Fifty percent of the population in Gaza are children,” Bowman told the magazine. "The international community as well as the United States should be prepared to welcome refugees from Palestine while being very careful to vet and not allow members of Hamas.”
That some lawmakers have publicly stated their lack of support for Palestinian refugees, or remained silent altogether, would make any widespread resettlement efforts like we saw with Ukrainian or Afghan civilians over the last few years “unlikely,” according to local refugee experts.
Exodus Refugee, a nonprofit based in Indianapolis that was heavily involved with the resettlement of refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine throughout the last two years, said bereft of presidential authorization, Palestinian civilians will not be granted access to the U.S. in the same way.
“The exception to this is when the president authorizes Humanitarian Parole for a specific group. That was the case with airlifting civilians who were fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan two years ago, or Ukrainian civilians the past year,” said Cole Varga, who is the CEO of Exodus Refugee.
It takes years before refugees are resettled in a third countries, according to Varga, and a Palestinian civilian fleeing the current war would likely have to make it to a second country, which has yet to even happen.
Even that is typically preceded by fleeing to a second country, which mostly has not happened yet as people are still actively trying to flee Gaza.
“Many of the Palestinians in Gaza are presently IDPs - internally displaced peoples - still and not refugees, yet,” Varga said.
Over the weekend, President Joe Biden condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel and “reiterated that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination.” He also offered Palestinian Authority President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority his “full support” for ongoing humanitarian efforts.
“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza — innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas — they’re being used as human shields,” Biden said at a Human Rights Campaign dinner on Saturday. “We have to reject hate in every form.”
So, where do Indiana lawmakers stand?
13News reached out to Governor Eric Holcomb, Indiana’s nine representatives in the U.S. House and the two state senators representing Hoosiers in Washington.
Of the dozen representatives contacted by 13News for a statement, a handful responded.
Gov. Eric Holcomb: No comment
Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana: “The Biden Administration is talking with other countries about where displaced persons might go within the Middle East region, and we look forward to hearing more about those conversations.”
Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana: No comment
Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-District 1 - No response
Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-District 2 - No response
Rep. Jim Banks, R-District 3 - Representative Banks is co-sponsoring the GAZA Act. “Hamas, a terrorist organization, is the most popular political group in Palestine. Joe Biden has already let in a record number of illegals immigrants from nations that harbor terrorists. Open borders with Palestine opens American soil to the sort of horrific terror attack inflicted on Israel, which is why I am supporting the GAZA Act”.
Rep. Jim Baird, R-District 4 - “Anti-Israeli and anti-American sentiments are deeply ingrained in Gaza’s culture. For that reason, I am extremely concerned by the national security risk posed by refugees from Gaza. We must close our southern border immediately and properly vet everyone coming into America.”
Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-District 5 - No response
Rep. Greg Pence, R-District 6 - No response
Rep. Andre Carson, D-District 7: Carson joined Democratic representatives in calling for a ceasefire:
“I’m proud to co-lead this resolution, which calls for a ceasefire to de-escalate this terrible situation. Our call for action is clear: every human life is precious, and no civilian – Israeli or Palestinian – should fear for their life. I condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, and I also condemn the Israeli government’s cruel response on millions of Palestinians.
The answer to violence is not more violence.
The answer is not military response and more killing of innocent children and women.
Gaza’s 2 million civilian residents – half of whom are children – are particularly vulnerable right now. The Israeli government cut off Gaza’s medical supply, food, fuel, water, and electricity; announced plans for ground military operations against civilians; and warned 1 million North Gaza residents to evacuate their homes. Palestinians are already surrounded by long-term military blockades — they have literally nowhere to go.
I continue to pray for all families in the region who have lost loved ones, are searching for family members, or fear for their lives. Our shared humanity will continue to be my guide.”
Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-District 8 - No response
Rep. Erin Houchin, R-District 9 - No response
