In recent weeks, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been at the center of controversy regarding his stance on accepting refugees from Gaza into the United States. The issue arose after former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley made comments about the need to “separate civilians from terrorists,” which DeSantis and his supporters interpreted as advocating for the importation of Gazan refugees.[0] A spokesperson for DeSantis’ super PAC, Never Back Down, reiterated this argument in an email, stating that DeSantis believed Gazans are antisemitic and do not believe in Israel’s right to exist, and therefore should not be brought to the US as refugees. The spokesperson also criticized Haley’s past positions on US refugee policy.[0]
This exchange of comments led to the posting of video clips by both Haley and DeSantis’ campaigns, with each claiming that the other supports bringing Gaza refugees to America.[0] DeSantis went so far as to claim in a Fox interview that Haley had spoken about bringing people from Gaza to the US on CNN.[0] These statements further fueled the controversy surrounding the issue.
DeSantis’ position on accepting refugees from Gaza is clear.[1] He stated that he does not believe the US should accept people from Gaza as refugees, citing their alleged antisemitism and lack of belief in Israel’s right to exist. He argued that Arab countries should be the ones to take in these refugees, and that flying them to the US is not an acceptable solution. He also expressed concerns about the potential increase in antisemitism and anti-Americanism if large numbers of Gazan refugees were to be brought to the US.
In response to DeSantis’ stance, a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced that two cargo planes loaded with crucial supplies had been dispatched to Israel as a humanitarian effort.[2] This move demonstrated Florida’s commitment to providing aid to Israel during the ongoing conflict.
DeSantis’ position on the issue of accepting Gazan refugees has garnered support from fellow Republican presidential hopefuls. Senator Tim Scott, at the same event as DeSantis, stated that he would withhold Pell Grants from universities that failed to address antisemitism on their campuses.[3] DeSantis and Scott both criticized President Biden’s response to the Hamas attacks, with Scott going so far as to say that the president has “blood on his hands.”[3]
The controversy surrounding DeSantis’ stance on accepting Gazan refugees has also sparked a debate about the culture in Gaza. DeSantis argued that the culture in Gaza is toxic, teaching children to hate Jews and not recognizing the existence of Israel.[4] He expressed concerns that importing large numbers of Gazan refugees to the US would increase antisemitism and anti-Americanism in the country.
During an interview with CBS’ Face the Nation, DeSantis faced criticism for his broad characterization of Gazans as antisemitic. Moderator Margaret Brennan questioned how he could paint such a broad brush and assume that all 2.3 million Gazans are antisemitic.[5] DeSantis did not directly address this criticism.
Amidst the controversy, DeSantis’ administration partnered with a nonprofit organization specializing in bringing US citizens home from conflict zones to safely fly Americans from Israel to Tampa.[6] The state covered the cost of air travel, which was estimated to be in the millions of dollars.[7] Multiple flights have been chartered to bring American citizens home, with plans for more in the future.
Overall, the controversy surrounding DeSantis’ stance on accepting Gazan refugees has sparked a national debate on US refugee policy, the culture in Gaza, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. DeSantis’ firm stance on the issue has garnered support from fellow Republicans, but has also faced criticism for its broad characterization of Gazans. The situation continues to evolve as the conflict between Israel and Hamas persists.
0. “Fact check: DeSantis campaign falsely describes Haley’s comments on the people of Gaza” erienewsnow.com, 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/49858169/fact-check-desantis-campaign-falsely-describes-haleys-comments-on-the-people-of-gaza
1. “Florida vows more help for people in Israel” Osceola News-Gazette, 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.aroundosceola.com/news-statewide-news/florida-vows-more-help-people-israel
2. “Florida sends aid to Israel via chartered cargo planes” WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, 18 Oct. 2023, https://wsvn.com/news/local/florida/florida-sends-aid-to-israel-via-chartered-cargo-planes
3. “DeSantis, Scott vow sanctions on colleges, students over Hamas support” The Hill, 21 Oct. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4268861-desantis-scott-vow-sanctions-on-colleges-students-hamas/
4. “Transcript: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on “Face the Nation,” Oct. 15, 2023″ CBS News, 15 Oct. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ron-desantis-florida-governor-2024-republican-candidate-face-the-nation-transcript-10-15-2023/
5. “Ron DeSantis Reminds America That Harvard and Yale Graduated An Ignorant Bigot” The Nation, 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/ron-desantis-gaza-bigotry/
6. “DeSantis promises to send back students caught ‘celebrating terrorism’ if elected” Colorado Springs Gazette, 21 Oct. 2023, https://gazette.com/news/wex/desantis-promises-to-send-back-students-caught-celebrating-terrorism-if-elected/article_17fd05e2-43d9-5337-87b9-9e90550eb064.html
7. “Nonprofit that flew Americans from Israel to Florida for DeSantis releases new details” Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2023, https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article280606914.html
