Ernst Leads GOP Colleagues in Standing with Israel

WASHINGTON – Ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) led 12 of her Senate Republican colleagues in reiterating their unwavering support for Israel and blasting the Biden-Harris administration and Senate Democrats for failing to stand with our closest ally in the Middle East, especially as eight Americans are being held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas.

Ernst was joined by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fl.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) in demanding the White House stop playing political games, provide the necessary support for Israel, bring every single hostage home, and ensure terrorists are never emboldened to take American hostages again.

Click here to watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks.

Background:

Ernst has been a fierce advocate for freeing American hostages and kept up the drumbeat to bring them home. In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, Ernst met with the hostage families in Israel and has remained in close contact with them. In October 2023, Ernst led a bipartisan group of her colleagues urging President Biden to focus his full attention on freeing American hostages taken by Hamas.

Yesterday, Senator Ernst led a bipartisan group of senators in telling the stories of the eight Americans who have been held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas and calling for an end to the uncertainty their families have endured since October 7th.

While she was in Israel in May 2024, Ernst received reports that the United States withheld an ammunition shipment to Israel, which would help it defend itself from Hamas. She immediately demanded answers from President Biden on what ammunition his administration withheld from Israel, whether it was ammunition approved by Congress, and why Congress was not notified. After Biden doubled down on his decision to revoke ammo from Israel, Ernst blasted the president for talking out of both sides of his mouth and reiterated her efforts to hold him accountable to his “ironclad” commitment.

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