Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called for Israel to take the gloves off in response to the Palestinian terrorist attacks that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 Israelis over the weekend, saying that Israel needs to completely eliminate the terrorist organization.
The Republican presidential candidate made the remarks during an interview Wednesday on Newsmax when asked what he believes Israel’s response should be inside Gaza.
“I think the reason why we’ve gotten to this point is because for decades, Israel would respond to acts of terror, but they would be very careful to do it in ways that were considered ‘proportionate’ and that would not get them international condemnation because the minute they start doing anything, they’re always under the microscope,” he said. “I think in this situation, we in America, we just got to stand with them. The goal should not be a ‘proportionate’ response, it should be the elimination of Hamas and the terrorist infrastructure that has grown up in Gaza.”
Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic terrorist organization, murdered more than 1,300 people inside Israel over the weekend and wounded over 3,000 more.
DeSantis noted that the surrounding Arab nations have always tried to eliminate Israel dating back to the 1940s.
“So when you hear people like AOC, and you see some of that stuff complaining about Gaza, Israel doesn’t occupy Gaza; they pulled out a Gaza in 2005,” he said. “You could have had the Palestinian Arabs there; they could have made something of that. It’s actually a pretty coastline. But instead, they basically elected Hamas to run, so they’ve chosen this course. And I just think Israel’s in a situation where their population has been decimated with terrorist attacks. And it just has to stop. This will be the final battle with Hamas.”
WATCH:
DESANTIS urges Israel to end Hamas:
"The goal should not be a 'proportionate response' — it should be the elimination of Hamas.” pic.twitter.com/5cpX4hNMrd
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) October 11, 2023