Official statements or press releases from the White House or related government agencies

Senate Republicans Urge Biden to Freeze Hamas Assets, Extradite Khaled Meshal and Others from Qatar

Nov 8, 2024, 08:54 PM

Senate Republicans are urging the Biden administration to take decisive action against Hamas leadership residing in Qatar. Senators Roger Wicker and James Risch, along with other colleagues, have called for the freezing of assets belonging to Hamas officials and the extradition of senior leaders, including Khaled Meshal. They emphasize that Hamas uses civilian populations as human shields, which they condemn as a repugnant military strategy. The senators argue that the leadership of Hamas has been living in luxury while orchestrating terrorist activities against Israel, and they stress the importance of ending the safe haven provided by Qatar. In a joint letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Attorney General Merrick Garland, the senators advocate for a reversal of current U.S. policies regarding Qatar, asserting that the defeat of Hamas is achievable if its leaders are denied sanctuary abroad.