Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mentioned on Sunday that he stands by the choice to revoke the license of any pro-Palestinian scholar teams aligned with Hamas from the state’s school campuses, saying that permitting these teams to publicly aspect with “brutal terrorist organizations” is akin to committing “suicide.” “As a rustic.”
DeSantis, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” saying the pro-Palestinian Solidarity group additionally claimed to be a part of Hamas.
He added: “This isn’t cancel tradition, this group. They mentioned themselves within the wake of the Hamas assault that they not solely stand in solidarity, however that they’re a part of this Hamas motion.” “So, sure, you’ve the appropriate to exit and display, however you can’t present materials help to terrorism. They’ve related themselves with Hamas, so we’ve got completely withdrawn their certificates.”
Final week, the state college system’s chancellor wrote a letter stating {that a} scholar group current at at the very least two universities within the Florida system, often called Nationwide College students for Justice in Palestine (Nationwide SJP), Published “Toolkit” Who refers back to the Hamas operation as “resistance” and says that “Palestinian college students in exile are a part of this motion, and will not be in solidarity with it.”
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The group, often called Nationwide College students for Justice in Palestine, declared itself a part of Hamas, DeSantis mentioned. (AP Photograph/Michael Dwyer, File)
DeSantis mentioned he believes the transfer is “absolutely justified below the legislation,” which states that it’s a felony below Florida legislation to offer materials help or sources to a delegated overseas terrorist group.
“Their phrases say that they’re a part of this group, that they not solely stand in solidarity, that they not solely help what they did, however that that is their motion,” DeSantis mentioned. “So when you hitch your wagon to a bunch like Hamas, it takes you out of the traditional scope of exercise, and that is one thing we are going to take motion in opposition to.”
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DeSantis additionally questioned whether or not permitting a bunch to brazenly aspect with a terrorist group is wholesome for the nation.
“Are we going to commit suicide as a rustic and let teams that brazenly align with brutal terrorist organizations unfold?” he requested. Requested. “I do not suppose that is a recipe for a profitable nation. I would like us to have a rustic the place we’re shielded from these issues. So I feel we made the appropriate choice. I help it one hundred pc.”
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DeSantis has been an outspoken supporter of cracking down on and condemning the Hamas terror assault in Israel on October 7 that killed greater than 1,400 Israelis. He lately mentioned he would cancel scholar visas and deport overseas nationals who have fun enthusiastically if he’s elected president.
Fox Information’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.