Embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) waded in on the Israel–Hamas conflict on Oct. 16, accusing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Russian President Vladimir Putin of “leveraging” the tragic situation for their own gain.
The New York Republican took to X, formerly Twitter where he shared a lengthy thread detailing how the influence of the CCP and President Putin “extends far beyond their own borders.”
“The CCP is known for its strategic maneuvering, and this is just another example. They see an opportunity to create chaos, divert attention, and advance their own interests. We must not underestimate the global impact of their actions,” he wrote.
Mr. Santos—who is currently facing multiple charges of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and lying to Congress—appeared to be referring to the CCP’s recent statement on the conflict.
The Chinese foreign minister reportedly told Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud during a phone call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart over the weekend that Israel’s actions “have gone beyond self-defense” and that it “should stop collective punishment of the people of Gaza.”
Russia Compares Gaza Blockade to Nazi Siege
“China opposes and condemns all actions that harm civilians because they violate basic human conscience and basic norms of international law,” Mr. Wang concluded, according to the publication.
Meanwhile, President Putin last week compared Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip—home to more than 2 million people—to Nazi Germany’s siege of Leningrad during World War Two and called for a resolution to the conflict through mediation.
The siege was one of the deadliest in history, lasting nearly 900 days and claiming the lives of roughly 650,000 people, mainly through starvation.
“Various scenarios are emerging, including the possibility of military and non-military measures being taken against the Gaza Strip comparable to the siege of Leningrad during World War II,” President Putin told journalists on a visit to Kyrgyzstan.
Biden to Visit Tel Aviv
A draft resolution put forward by Russia calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza was not also adopted on Monday at the UN Security Council after members remained divided over the lack of specific condemnation of the Palestinian group Hamas, which unleashed terror on Israel earlier this month with a surprise attack that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people.Russia and China, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Gabon, and Mozambique, were among those who voted for the resolution while France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States voted against it.
The sentiments from Russia and the CCP, both of which have historically sided with Palestine and other countries in the Middle East—home to vast amounts of oil—mark a stark contrast to the United States, which has committed its unwavering support for ally Israel; vowing to send additional military assets and aid to the nation.
President Joe Biden is also set to visit Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
“Remember, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the CCP and Putin meddling in international affairs. Their support for oppressive regimes like Hamas is part of a larger pattern. By fueling instability, they weaken democratic values and pose a threat to peace and security,” Rep. Santos wrote in his thread Monday.
“The U.S. must expose and vehemently oppose these dangerous alliances. Our safety and world stability depend on it. We should focus on investigating the CCP and #Putin’s disruptive tactics to stop their nefarious agendas,” the lawmaker concluded.
