A House lawmaker on the Intelligence Committee expressed shock Wednesday at the lack of response from Democrats to pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah agitators “sitting right down the street” from delegates and politicians attending their party’s national convention in Chicago.
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), at a counter-press conference that Donald Trump surrogates held on the sidelines of the Democratic National Committee forum, blamed the border policies of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the imminent threat.
“Hezbollah is here. Hamas is here,” Waltz, who sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told reporters at the Trump Hotel Chicago. “Well, heck. I mean, Hamas is sitting right down the street, right amongst the protests, where they’re flying Hamas and Hezbollah flags.”
“I mean, how would we be responding if they were flying ISIS flags? And why are we responding as a society and as a government differently?” he asked.”Because they’re all one in the same in terms of organizations.”
Many of the protesters oppose US support for its ally Israel in the war against Hamas in Gaza and have called for a cease-fire, while some have openly advocated for foreign terrorist organizations to triumph through military strength in the Middle East.
Keffiyeh-clad demonstrators were seen Monday carrying signs and waving flags in support of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, while marching outside the convention site at the United Center.
“Every Palestinian supports Hamas,” one protester told Fox News. “Not just me. Every Palestinian.”
Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters later broke through a fence in the outer perimeter, leading to a handful of arrests.
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Biden, in his speech to the delegates that evening, said, “Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.”
On Tuesday, bomb threats were also called in to four hotels in the downtown area, prompting an investigation by the Chicago Police Department and US Secret Service.
“Right now as we speak, in Afghanistan terrorism is making a roaring comeback. Al Qaeda is resurgent. They are developing training camps. ISIS is resurgent,” Waltz divulged.
“Another attack — Biden and Harris’ own FBI director has repeatedly said — is imminent,” he warned during Wednesday’s presser, “and just a matter of when, not if, because of the failed policies of this administration that she’s proud of.”
In an October congressional hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray first cautioned lawmakers about the “elevated” terror risk inside the US following Hamas’ attack on Israel.
“We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called ‘caliphate’ several years ago,” he told members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Wray in June said the “rogues’ gallery” of foreign terror groups seeking to harm Americans was drawing further “inspiration” from an ISIS-K attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed 137 people.
That same month, six suspected terrorists with ISIS ties involved in a bomb plot were arrested by authorities in New York City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
At least seven other major terror plots have been foiled in Europe — including the thwarted ISIS bombing of Taylor Swift’s sold-out show in a Vienna, Austria, concert hall earlier this month.
A federal law enforcement agency rep told The Post that officials are “always cognizant” of the risks terror groups pose on US soil — but no “specific” or “credible” threats had been identified amid the DNC in Chicago
The Post has reached out to the Chicago Police Department and US Secret Service for comment.
