October 23, 2023

Manchin Supports Israel Following Hamas Terrorist Attack

Washington, DC— Following the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been working every day to support Israel in its time of need and make sure that Israelis have what they need to rightfully defend themselves. 

“We cannot let terrorists win and we will not rest until we have done everything we can to support Israel in this time of need,” said Senator Manchin. “Our steadfast support is bipartisan and vitally important to our own national security. Failing to adequately respond to this horrific attack will only embolden other terrorist organizations and their backers such as Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. America is Israel’s steadfast ally, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure Israel is able to secure their nation on their terms.”

Following the launch of Hama’s unprecedented attack,  Senator Manchin supported several resolutions and legislation in support of Israel’s security, including:

  • Senator Manchin and his Senate colleagues unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution that reaffirms the United States’ support of Israel and its right to self-defense. Additionally, the resolution condemns Hamas’ war on Israel and Iran’s support of global terrorism.
  • Along with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Manchin introduced legislation to block Iran from accessing the $6 billion in funds that the Biden administration released in August.
  • The Senator and his colleagues introduced the Revoke Iranian Funding Act to rescind the general licenses that authorized the release of $6 billion to Iran and prevent the Iranian regime from accessing and using the funds held in Qatar to finance terrorist attacks against Israel or any other nation.
  • After Senator Manchin’s inquiry, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is now allowing visa-free travel for eligible Israeli citizens and nationals through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization. 
  • Senator Manchin and over 100 of his colleagues sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Brian Nelson, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, raising grave concerns about reports that in the months leading up to their brutal October 7th terrorist attack on Israel, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) raised millions of dollars via crypto, evading U.S. sanctions to fund their operations.
  • Senator Manchin sent a bipartisan letter urging U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to make it the official policy of the United States to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in the wake of Hamas’s deadly terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.