Florida Governor and GOP presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is facing backlash for his remarks regarding accepting refugees from Gaza amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. DeSantis argued that Palestinian Arabs should go to Arab countries and that the US should not absorb any of them. He further claimed that all refugees from Gaza are anti-Semitic and do not believe in Israel's right to exist. These comments came as Israel warned civilians in the Gaza Strip to evacuate ahead of an anticipated ground invasion in response to surprise attacks by Hamas. DeSantis defended his stance, stating that the Gaza Strip has a toxic culture influenced by Hamas, which teaches children to hate Jews and prepares them for terrorist attacks. He believes that accepting large numbers of these refugees would increase anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism in the US.

On the other side, at least one Democrat has called for the resettlement of people from Gaza. Representative Jamaal Bowman stated that the US should be prepared to welcome refugees from Palestine while ensuring that members of Hamas are not allowed in. He argued that the international community and the US should support and provide safe passage for Palestinian refugees.

The Biden administration has expanded refugee resettlement, and the allocation for FY 2024 includes a range of 30,000-45,000 refugees from the Near East and South Asia. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides support to Palestinian refugees, and the US engages in a worldwide refugee resettlement program in partnership with the UN. However, DeSantis raised concerns about the potential anti-Israeli views held by refugees from Gaza and questioned why Arab states are not taking in these refugees.

DeSantis's remarks have received pushback from former Arkansas Governor and fellow GOP hopeful Asa Hutchinson, who stated that categorizing all people from Gaza as anti-Semitic is dangerous. Despite the criticism, DeSantis remains firm in his stance and argues that those who dislike America should not be allowed into the country.

The issue of accepting refugees from Gaza has become a controversial and polarizing topic, highlighting the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the refugee crisis it has created. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a significant displacement of the Gaza population, with over 423,000 citizens displaced according to the United Nations. As the situation continues to unfold, the debate over accepting refugees from Gaza is likely to remain a point of contention.