Sen. Tom Cotton didn’t hold back during his recent interview, pointing out a crucial issue: the Biden-Harris administration’s lack of unwavering support for Israel has prolonged the conflict with Hamas. Cotton argued that had the administration backed Israel fully from the outset of the October 7 terrorist attack, the war against Hamas might have ended sooner, and fewer lives—including the hostages still in Gaza—would have been lost.
The Republican senator from Arkansas was direct in his criticism, noting that the Biden administration has consistently failed to give Israel the diplomatic and political backing it desperately needed. Instead of standing firm with Israel, Cotton claimed the administration has focused more on pressuring Israel than on confronting Iran and its terrorist networks, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
“If the Biden-Harris administration had backed Israel from the beginning, not only would this war likely have already ended with fewer civilian casualties, but we would have gotten more hostages out earlier and alive,” he said. “What Hamas is doing, though, is continually moving the goalposts on any kind of hostage exchange for duly convicted terrorists that Hamas wants back. And the Biden-Harris administration keeps allowing them to move the goalposts.”
This approach, according to Cotton, has dragged the war on, making the situation worse for everyone involved. Cotton’s point here reflects a broader frustration within conservative circles: the Biden administration’s handling of foreign policy often seems more concerned with appeasement and political maneuvering than with standing strong with allies.
Cotton didn’t stop there. He brought up the troubling fact that earlier this year, the Biden administration had effectively imposed a partial arms embargo on Israel. According to Cotton, this didn’t just impact Israel’s ability to secure the powerful bombs they need to destroy Hamas’ deep tunnel networks—it also extended to things like mortar rounds, artillery shells, and even small arms.
The kicker? Israel is apparently struggling to access the tractors and bulldozers necessary to clear minefields, which leaves Israeli soldiers even more vulnerable. Imagine this: Israel is battling a ruthless terrorist group, and our own administration is making it harder for them to defend themselves by restricting access to basic tools of war. Cotton’s criticism rings loud here—this isn’t just a misstep; it’s a dangerous failure of policy that is costing lives.
The impact of these policies is severe. As Cotton noted, Biden’s approach has allowed Hamas to keep moving the goalposts when it comes to hostage negotiations. By not taking a hard line from the start, the administration has effectively emboldened Hamas, giving them room to shift demands and prolong negotiations. The result? More hostages have been killed, and more innocent lives have been lost in a conflict that could have been wrapped up sooner.
This points to a larger problem with the Biden-Harris administration’s foreign policy as a whole. Republicans like Cotton see a troubling pattern: whether it’s Iran, Afghanistan, or now Israel, this administration is consistently weak on defending America’s allies and standing up to terrorist organizations.
Cotton’s message is clear—if the administration had stood firmly with Israel from the start, without hesitation or half-measures, the war might have been over by now. Instead, by focusing on diplomacy over decisive action, the Biden-Harris administration has only made things worse, leaving Israel to fight longer and harder while hostages and civilians continue to pay the price.
It’s time for a change in approach—one that fully backs Israel in its fight against terrorism and puts an end to policies that only serve to extend the conflict and increase casualties. The stakes are too high to continue down this path of weakness and indecision.
