DeSantis argues against US accepting Gaza refugees, citing antisemitism

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) argued Saturday that the U.S. shouldn’t take in Palestinian refugees fleeing from Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas militants.

“I don’t know what [President] Biden’s gonna do, but we cannot accept people from Gaza into this country as refugees,” DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate, said during a campaign stop in Iowa.

“I am not going to do that,” he added. “If you look at how they behave, not all of them are Hamas, but they are all antisemitic. None of them believe in Israel’s right to exist.”

His remarks come as Israel is expected to move forward with a ground offensive on northern Gaza, the area controlled by Hamas. The Israeli military gave Palestinian civilians just over 24 hours to evacuate the area.