Florida Governor DeSantis Claims to Have Prevented Hostages in Israel
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a bold claim during the third Republican presidential primary debate in Miami, Florida. He asserted that his actions prevented the taking of hostages by bringing stranded Americans back from Israel. While his statement garnered attention, there is some confusion surrounding the evidence behind his claim.
DeSantis used the opportunity to contrast his proactive approach with the Biden administration’s response to the crisis. He emphasized how he swiftly sent planes to Israel a week after the outbreak of war to rescue stranded Floridians. In contrast, Biden’s administration struggled to provide a way home for Americans whose flights had been canceled.
DeSantis proudly stated, We had Floridians that were over there after the attack. [US President Joe Biden] left them stranded. They couldn’t get flights out. I scrambled resources in Florida. I sent planes over to Israel, and I brought back over 700 people to safety. There could’ve been more hostages had we not acted. We acted, and we saved lives.
However, it is important to note that after October 7, when DeSantis organized the charter flights, there was no additional risk of hostage-taking in Israel. The Times of Israel expressed puzzlement about DeSantis’s assertion since no one was kidnapped into Gaza after that date. It remains unclear why DeSantis believes that the flights he organized prevented additional hostages from being taken into Gaza.
Contrary to DeSantis’s claim, the Biden administration also took steps to evacuate American citizens. They organized charter planes and ships to ensure the safe return of stranded Americans after the outbreak of war.
Although there was theoretically a small risk due to a small number of infiltrators left behind by the Hamas terrorists, Israel had already heightened its state of alertness by then. Hence, the likelihood of additional hostage-taking was significantly diminished.
As the topic of Israel’s conflict continues to be impactful in the political landscape, claims made by politicians will face scrutiny. The veracity of Governor DeSantis’s statement, particularly regarding the prevention of hostages, remains a subject of debate and investigation.
