Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Ron DeSantis confirms sending weapons to 'Israel'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Oct 2023 09:58
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

"Israel’s" consul general in Miami, Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, denies requesting DeSantis to send shipments of weapons and claims that shipments of medical supplies were only agreed upon.

  • x
  • Republican US presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, October 14, 2023, in Creston, Iowa. (AP)
    Republican US presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, October 14, 2023, in Creston, Iowa. (AP)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' office confirmed on Thursday that he has sent drones, body armor, and helmets to "Israel", adding that the transport was done through a private supplier.

A spokesperson for the governor told US media outlets that the delivery was done following a request by "Israel’s" consul general in Miami, Maor Elbaz-Starinsky.

Jeremy Redfern, the press secretary for DeSantis' gubernatorial office, wrote to Reuters, "At the request of the Israeli Consul General in Miami, cargo planes contracted by Florida were used to transport healthcare and hospital supplies, drones, body armor, and helmets that first responders can use".

However, Elbaz-Starinsky claimed to AP that such a request was never put through. "Nothing went through me," he said, adding, "We were never in communication on any shipments of arms or ammunition. The only thing that I have dealt with sending is medical supplies."

Read next: 'You ain't seen nothing yet': Florida's DeSantis

"I...would find it very, very bizarre to think that somebody is procuring weapons and sending it to Israel..." he said, adding "This is not how we work. And certainly not privately funded."

Related News

Supreme Court clears fast-track deportations to random third countries

China-US trade falls 10.4% in H1-2025 to $289.36 billion

DeSantis’ spokesperson asserted to CNN that both parties did collaborate to "help get weapons and ammunition to Israel through private parties." 

'Not illegal'

A CNN source noted that the supplies left Florida for "Israel" last Tuesday.

In light of this, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday that "It is not illegal for the governor of a state to offer a measure of foreign assistance to another country," highlighting that "there are laws and regulations which govern how the export process is handled and that’s all done through [The Department of] Commerce. I couldn’t speak with authority today about whether the governor has checked all those boxes or not."

DeSantis has also taken action by arranging charter flights to transport Americans home from "Israel", sending medical supply shipments, and ordering Florida universities to ban the Students for Justice in Palestine organization.

US President Joe Biden is ramping up military aid to "Israel" to pave the way for a "swift, decisive and overwhelming" response against the Palestinian Resistance, as the White House is requesting an additional $14 billion in support from Congress - most of which is meant for weapons.

The American military claims to have prepared 2,000 personnel and a range of units on a heightened standby for potential deployment to "Israel". However, defense officials state that the forces are not intended to serve in combat roles and are tasked with advising and medical roles, but some could enter to support Israeli forces.

Read more: US to deploy 900 soldiers in Middle East under CENTCOM

Two aircraft carrier groups, USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, have already been sent to the region. The groups also include one missile cruiser, at least two destroyers, and dozens of aircraft including jet fighters alongside around 5,000 servicemen.

  • United States
  • Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Palestine
  • Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Israel
  • Gaza
  • Ron DeSantis
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS