Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues to be put off so the United States can send additional air defense systems and secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) discussed in a recent appearance on Fox and Friends First, saying Hamas is using the delay to its benefit and describing how the US can avoid a larger war.
Currently, the Israeli Defense Forces are making "limited incursions" into Gaza, targeting Hamas bases and rocket manufacturing sites or attempting to rescue hostages. "What is standing out to me," said Rep. Waltz, "is the Administration and the President are pressing Israel to slow-roll this invasion for a few reasons."
Specifically, the Biden Administration intends to deliver aid to Gaza to "prevent a massive humanitarian crisis" and ensure the hostages are all released. However, "At the end of the day, I believe [the IDF] are just going to have to go in and get out as many as they can because Hamas has clearly taken a strategy of trickling out just a few to buy time," Rep. Waltz continued.
Host Carley Shimkus asked if the United States should be in this position to request a delay of the invasion to rush air defense systems to Israel, to which Waltz effectively answered no. Moreover, he reiterated that if we had kept "maximum pressure" on Iran, they would not have the money necessary to arm and train Hamas in the first place, and these air defense systems could stay in the Pacific where they have been to deter China.
The question then became how Israel could defeat Hamas without escalating into World War III.
"Sometimes with a bully, and in this case Iran, you have to punch him in the nose. That is what we did with [Iranian Revolutionary Guard leader Qassem] Soleimani, and deterrence was restored. But we continue to hear from [Secretary of State Antony] Blinken, from the President and others, "Darn it, we will defend ourselves vigorously and if necessary, we will take action. Well, after 30 wounded soldiers and nearly 90 attacks on our bases in the last two years, when does this Administration find it necessary to punch the bully in the nose? Because that is the only thing it responds to. It is going to get away with these attacks as long as it can, and it is going to arm, fund, and train its proxies as long as we let them get away with it," Waltz concluded.
