FBI Director Christopher Wray told senators on Tuesday there was an “increased” risk of terrorism in the US following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel – including the possibility that local supporters of the jihadist group were involved in the violence.
“We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will be an inspiration the likes of which we have not seen since ISIS launched its so-called ‘caliphate’ several years ago,” Wray told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. .
The FBI chief added that while “the threat of terrorism has increased throughout 2023 … the ongoing war in the Middle East has increased the threat of attacks against Americans in the United States to levels ‘not since the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. against people who were innocent in Israel a few weeks ago.”
Wray’s testimony followed widespread demonstrations in major US cities and on college campuses, where pro-Palestinian activists have expressed support for Hamas.
The terrorist group launched a multi-pronged surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people – including at least 33 Americans – injuring thousands and taking more than 200 hostages.
FBI Director Christopher Wray informed Congress on Tuesday of the “increased” threat of domestic terrorism in the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel. AFP via Getty Images “We also cannot and do not rule out the possibility that Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations could exploit a time of conflict to carry out attacks here on our own soil,” Wray said.REUTERS
“We also cannot and do not rule out the possibility that Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations could exploit the current conflict to carry out attacks here on our own soil,” the FBI director warned.
“This is not the time to panic,” Wray told Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) when asked about the threats facing Americans. “We shouldn’t stop going about our daily lives – going to school, synagogue and so on – but we should be vigilant.”
The FBI director also stated that foreign terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda have also called for attacks on US soil in addition to rocket and drone attacks carried out by Iran-backed jihadists against American military bases in Iraq and Syria.
Wray’s testimony came amid widespread protests in major US cities and on college campuses, where pro-Palestinian protesters have expressed support for Hamas.Getty Images
Wray further cited a recent failed attempt by a Tehran-sponsored terrorist group to assassinate “high-ranking current and former US government officials.”
The “Threats to the Homeland” hearing also featured Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) took Mayorkas to task for employing a former Palestine Liberation Organization spokesman at his agency, who shared images of Hamas terrorists using paragliders and called for Israel’s “fall” on personal social media posts.
“These are asylum and immigration officials posting these pro-genocide slogans and images, frankly, on the day Israelis are being slaughtered in their beds,” Hawley told Mayorkas, referring to Nejwa Ali, an official with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“This person works for the Department of Homeland Security. Have you fired him?” asked Hawley.
“To suggest that that is the emblem of the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security is despicable,” Mayorkas began to respond before being cut off.
Both Wray and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas used their opening statements to ask Congress to renew section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).REUTERS
“When Israel has been invaded and Jewish students are barred from libraries in this country and cannot be escorted out because they are in danger for their lives,” Hawley responded, “you have workers celebrating genocide. And you say it is despicable for me to ask that question. Has he been fired?”
“The individual has been placed on administrative leave,” Mayorkas replied, exchanging glances with Hawley. “That individual was hired in 2019. … I can’t speak to ongoing personnel issues.”
“This is not enough to fire him?” asked Hawley. “That’s what you told me.”
“That’s not what I said,” interrupted Mayorkas.
“He’s still on your payroll as we sit here today,” Hawley said. “Has he judged any cases involving Israeli citizens seeking asylum in this country?”
Mayorkas declined to answer further.
“Frankly, Mr. Secretary, I think your performance is atrocious, and I think the fact that you are not prepared to provide an answer to this committee is truly atrocious,” Hawley concluded.
“What I find despicable is the implication that this language, which is so repulsive, could, in fact, be emblematic of the sentiments of the 260,000 men and women of the Department of Homeland Security,” Mayorkas responded.
“Senator Hawley took an anti-me approach on this question, and maybe he doesn’t know my own background — maybe he doesn’t know that I’m the son of a Holocaust survivor; maybe he didn’t know that my mother lost almost all of her family at the hands of the Nazis.
“So I found the opponent’s tone was not right. I find it disrespectful to me and my heritage. And I don’t expect an apology. But I wanted to say what I said.”
Mayorkas also declined to answer whether the Biden administration would revoke the visas of foreign students at US universities celebrating the deaths of Israelis.
Hawley led a resolution that passed the Senate last week condemning Hamas and an antisemitic student group that praised the terrorist group’s attacks.
Both Wray and Mayorkas used their opening statements to ask Congress to reform section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which House Republicans have expressed concern about.
In a January 2022 letter to Wray, then-House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) cited “significant violations” of privacy rules in conducting surveillance, according to a 2020 memo from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, among other concerns.
The letter was co-signed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has yet to say how the lower house will approach the issue.
However, Jordan in a Judiciary Committee hearing with the FBI director earlier this year made it clear that “Republicans will oppose the reauthorization of FISA in its current form.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
