Visiting US Senator Fetterman: No to any deal that leaves Hamas in power
Outspoken pro-Israel Democrat says during his first trip to Israel that Biden should not have withheld bombs; backs Netanyahu address to Congress
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Backing the position expressed repeatedly by Israel’s leadership, United States Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) said on Thursday that he would oppose any deal with Hamas that ended the Gaza war and left the terror group in power.
“I fully support the prime minister’s idea that he can never allow a permanent ceasefire [if] Hamas is allowed to be functional,” said Fetterman, speaking in Jerusalem during his first trip to Israel.
“That’s my red line on that,” said the freshman senator, clad in his trademark shorts and hoodie sweatshirt. “I could never support Israel being bullied into an artificial kind of permanent ceasefire against an enemy like Hamas.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists he will fight till Hamas is destroyed over its devastating October 7 attack on the country.
Hamas on June 11 said a proposal laid out by US President Joe Biden and backed by Israel did not meet its demand for a complete end to the war in Gaza, responding to the offer with significant amendments that mediators have struggled to bridge.
The Biden proposal reportedly provides for a temporary ceasefire in the first phase of the deal, to be extended into “a sustainable calm (cessation of military operations and hostilities permanently)” in the second phase. However, Netanyahu has repeatedly denied that the proposal provides for ending the war before Israel achieves its two declared goals of destroying Hamas and bringing home all the hostages.
“There will never be any meaningful peace as long as Hamas is allowed to occupy [Gaza],” said the towering Pennsylvania Democrat. “And Gaza will need to be rebuilt. And how could anybody think that’s possible if that organization is there? ”
Earlier this week, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said that a program to replace Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip would begin “in the coming days.” It would be based on local Gazans unaffiliated with Hamas.
Hamas rejected any proposal that excludes it from governing Gaza, saying in a statement that the future of the Strip “will be decided by the Palestinian people themselves and no one else.”
“How can you possibly rebuild Gaza when those resources must be flowing through Hamas?” asked Fetterman, on the final day of a 3-day trip during which he met Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials.
Anyone involved in the reconstruction of Gaza would have “a rifle head to their head” if Hamas remains in power, he argued.
Such a process would “turn into a geyser of resource for Hamas,” Fetterman insisted, which would allow them to rebuild their tunnels and buy weapons.
“We have to have that conversation,” he said, “because it’s very disingenuous if you pretend that, oh, yeah, that rebuild is going to be smooth and it’s just going to be writing some checks and it’s all going to turn out fine.”
Since the Israel-Hamas war began nearly nine months ago, Fetterman has been one of the most outspoken supporters of Israel at the US Capitol, wallpapering his office with the pictures of hostages held by Hamas and wearing dog tags to show his support for their release. The approach has earned him opponents on the left and, uncharacteristically, friends on the right.
The lawmaker has repeatedly stood up to far-left, anti-Israel protesters.
He also disavowed his alma mater, Harvard University, over the treatment of Jewish students while receiving an award at Yeshiva University’s commencement ceremony.
While he remains firmly behind Biden — whom he called “a strong, strong, unapologetic ally of Israel” — Fetterman said he disagrees with the White House on the decision to keep some weapons from Israel.
The Biden administration confirmed last month that it had held up a large shipment of 2,000- and 500-pound bombs that it feared Israel might use in a major ground operation in Rafah.
“I’ve been very clear there’s no conditions, and that hasn’t changed,” he stressed.
“I didn’t support withholding any of those large bombs, because they have to fight an enemy that hides in tunnels,” said Fetterman, “and I trust Israel’s judgment. They are not looking to maximize civilian death.”
Hamas, on the other hand, is trying to get as many Gazans killed as possible, he maintained: “They celebrate the death and misery of Palestinians because they believe that that is their tool to demonize Israel.”
In dozens of messages sent over several months and acquired by The Wall Street Journal, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar communicated to Hamas compatriots and mediating parties alike that he had no interest in pursuing a ceasefire with Israel, as he believed that the growing civilian death toll would serve to benefit Hamas more than a cessation of fighting would.
In his meeting with Netanyahu, Fetterman said the two discussed the prime minister’s speech to a joint session of Congress next month.
A number of Democratic lawmakers are planning to boycott the speech.
“I think the Prime Minister has the right to have that opportunity,” said Fetterman, predicting that some Democrats would engage in “performance art” around the address, which would only encourage Hamas.
“I don’t know why you would not allow the leader of our dear ally to… We just voted billions [of dollars] of aid. Well, let’s hear from him.”
