The Gaza Strip is an area the size of a small county that is controlled by the terrorist group Hamas. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and is bordered by Egypt and Israel. Yesterday, the State Department issued a warning telling all Americans to leave Gaza immediately. Now Gaza is best described as a "hellhole". Few people work. There are shortages of all sorts of items. People are often getting shot by Hamas security forces. In short, it is a disaster of a place to live. Much of the aid that gets sent there to help the people is confiscated by Hamas and used for weapons and construction of tunnels. These have been the conditions for at least the last ten years.
Since things are so awful in Gaza, one does have to wonder why there are Americans there at all. It's inexplicable, but the new State Department announcement is even more puzzling. Things in Gaza have been terrible for years. Why is the State Department only now issuing a directive to Americans to leave? There's no new war. There was an exchange of fire between Hamas and Israel the other day, but that happens periodically. Nothing is different as far as the status of Gaza is concern.
What has changed, however, is that the world learned that the USA paid a ransom to Iran to release some prisoners/hostages at the time of the nuclear deal. American policy of not negotiating with terrorists was thrown away by Obama and his people. Suddenly, the Hamas terrorists know that if they take Americans hostage, they may get a big pay day from our government. It could be Christmas in September for Hamas if it captures the right hostage. That risk of being taken hostage is likely the reason why the State Department issued its warning only now.
The White House may still be claiming that the money that went to Iran was not a ransom. The State Department, however, knows the truth and it is being forced to act to protect the American citizens in Gaza.
Since things are so awful in Gaza, one does have to wonder why there are Americans there at all. It's inexplicable, but the new State Department announcement is even more puzzling. Things in Gaza have been terrible for years. Why is the State Department only now issuing a directive to Americans to leave? There's no new war. There was an exchange of fire between Hamas and Israel the other day, but that happens periodically. Nothing is different as far as the status of Gaza is concern.
What has changed, however, is that the world learned that the USA paid a ransom to Iran to release some prisoners/hostages at the time of the nuclear deal. American policy of not negotiating with terrorists was thrown away by Obama and his people. Suddenly, the Hamas terrorists know that if they take Americans hostage, they may get a big pay day from our government. It could be Christmas in September for Hamas if it captures the right hostage. That risk of being taken hostage is likely the reason why the State Department issued its warning only now.
The White House may still be claiming that the money that went to Iran was not a ransom. The State Department, however, knows the truth and it is being forced to act to protect the American citizens in Gaza.
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