Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature took several actions to demonstrate their support of Israel in the days and weeks following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
Some of DeSantis’s actions received national and international attention since he is in the midst of a presidential election campaign and has referred to them at campaign events.
In this post, I summarize the actions. For more, see the News Coverage section at the end of the post.
Initial Response
DeSantis responded promptly and unequivocally to the Hamas attack on X (formerly Twitter):
The dastardly terrorist attacks perpetrated against innocent Israeli civilians by Iran-backed terror group Hamas deserve a swift and lethal response.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 7, 2023
Israel not only has the right to defend itself against these attacks, it has a duty to respond with overwhelming force.
I…
Ordered Flags at Half-Staff
On Monday, Oct. 9, DeSantis directed the flags of the United States and the State of Florida at all local and state facilities throughout the state to be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.
He also directed the Capitol to be lit in blue and white.
“Florida stands with the State of Israel and Israeli citizens,” DeSantis said. This action is directed “[A]s a mark of respect for the victims and in solidarity with the State of Israel,” he said.
The move was among signs of solidarity with Israel ordered by governors across the country in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iowa, Arkansas, and more that had begun over the weekend.
Increased Sanctions on Iran
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, DeSantis announced a proposal asking the Legislature to increase the state’s sanctions on Iran. The proposal included broadening the industries on Florida’s scrutinized companies list and strengthening Florida’s position on states that sponsor terror.
“With Iran helping plot the barbaric attack against Israel,” he said in a news release announcing the proposal, “I want to make it abundantly clear: Florida supports the State of Israel against the Iranian terror state.”
The announcement made it clear that DeSantis’s proposal had the backing of the Legislature. “Read more about this proposal for the upcoming Florida legislative session here,” it said.
“We condemn the horrific acts of terrorism coordinated by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said in the same release, “and we must ensure we are doing everything within our authority as a state government to protect Floridians from this dangerous and corrupt regime.”
“I proudly join with Governor DeSantis to support any measure that weakens the Iranian regime and protects our taxpayers,” House Speaker Paul Renner stated in the release.
Authorized Protective, Logistical, and Evacuation Operations “As Needed”
Beginning on Oct. 7, the state provided law enforcement resources upon request “to prevent violence at demonstrations intended to intimidate and threaten the Jewish population and to support Hamas” and “to protect the Jewish population in their schools and places of worship.”
On Thursday, Oct. 12, DeSantis issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency to respond to any violence that might break out and ordered the activation of the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard “as needed.”
The Executive Order also authorized the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to draw money from the state’s multi-billion Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund for rescue operations and to move supplies into Israel.
Helped Transport People Back From Israel
Soon after signing the Executive Order, the state partnered with Project Dynamo to bring to Florida Americans who were unable to return from Israel due to commercial flight cancellations.
Project Dynamo is a Tampa-based international search, rescue, aid, and assistance non-profit organization. Headed by Bryan Stern, a U.S. Army and Navy veteran, it assists those impacted in disaster areas and conflict zones where the U.S. government does not have access or a presence.
A Project Dynamo team was already on the ground in Israel compiling lists of people who had requested a flight home when Stern was contacted by his friend Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa.
“We didn’t expect to get paid going into this,” Stern said in an interview, but Collins offered to put him in touch with the state’s emergency management team. The organization had never received government or corporate funds before.
Project Dynamo was awarded $1 million by the Volunteer Florida Foundation on Oct. 20, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The donation appears on the Volunteer Florida website as one of 77 grants awarded to assist Floridians after Hurricane Ian.
Of the 270 people on the first flight, which landed in Tampa on Oct. 15, only about 40 were Florida residents; the rest were from all over the country, according to Stern.
By Oct. 24, nearly 700 Americans had been flown to Florida on four flights and received supportive resources from several state agencies and volunteer organizations, according to a governor’s office news release.
Sent Supplies to Israel
On Oct. 17, DeSantis announced that the FDEM had deployed two cargo planes holding 85 pallets of donated supplies to Israel.
On Oct. 26, a spokesman said the state sent healthcare supplies, drones, body armor, and helmets. The state also worked with groups to supply unspecified amounts of weapons and ammunition that were privately funded, the spokesman said.
Held Special Legislative Session
The Florida Legislature met in special session from Nov. 6 through Nov. 8 to address what DeSantis said were “urgent issues facing the state” and that Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said “warrant our attention in advance of the 2024 Regular Session.”
Two of the four bills passed in the session and signed into law on Nov. 13 related to the war in Gaza. One tightened sanctions against Iran, as proposed by DeSantis on Oct. 10. The other provided funds for security at Jewish institutions in the state. Specifically:
— Sanctions Against Iran
Florida already had sanctions in place making companies with activities in Iran subject to divestment from some state funds and not eligible for future investment. HB5C broadened the definition of a “scrutinized company” to include any company engaging in business operations with the government of Iran in the energy, petrochemical, financial, construction, manufacturing, textile, mining, metals, shipping, shipbuilding, or port sectors.
By expanding the definition, Florida instituted “some of the harshest sanctions against Iran of any state in the nation,” according to the Governor’s news release.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously; two Democrats voted against it in the House: Rep. Anna Eskamani and Rep. Angela Nixon. During the vote, Eskamani, an Iranian American, explained that the bill could potentially hurt her family in Iran. Eskamani and Nixon were the only two Florida lawmakers to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
— Funds for Security at Jewish Institutions
CS/HB7C provided $25 million for security at Jewish day schools and preschools and set up a $20 million fund for organizations at risk of hate crimes, including schools, synagogues, and museums.
The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
News Coverage
These are some of the news articles I read in preparing this post:
- Vigils, rallies mark Florida response to attacks in Israel. What we know. Tallahassee Democrat, 10/9/23
- Gov. DeSantis expresses support for Israel, proposes increased sanctions on Iran, CBS News Miami, 10/10/23
- Ron DeSantis tells ‘Morning Joe’ he fears Americans will begin blaming Israel for Hamas attacks: ‘There’s no moral equivalence’, Video via The Warp, 10/10/23
- DeSantis declares state of emergency in Florida because of Israel-Hamas war, Florida Phoenix, 10/12/23
- DeSantis pulls Florida disaster funds to pay for Israel emergency declaration, Spectrum News, 10/12/23
- Tampa rescue group Project Dynamo: DeSantis ‘paid for the plane’ out of Israel, Tampa Bay Times, 10/16/23
- Florida spent $4 million flying Americans out of Israel to Tampa, News Service of Florida via CBS Miami, 10/18/23
- DeSantis keeps up evacuation flights, supply runs to Israel, Orlando Sentinel, 10/18/23
- DeSantis says Florida helped send weapons to Israel — a move that could boost him in the GOP primary, Associated Press, 10/26/23
- Israeli official, DeSantis administration at odds over alleged ammunition shipment, Reuters, 10/26/23
Thanks for choosing to be an informed Florida voter.