Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) ripped critics of Israel’s war against Hamas for suggesting that Israel should be stopped from wiping out the terrorist group because of collateral damage.
Graham’s remarks on Sunday to CNN host Dana Bash on “State of the Union” come after Hamas murdered 1,200 Israelis in an unprecedented terrorist attack in October.
Graham then called out Vice President Kamalas Harris and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for remarks that they have made criticizing the way Israel is executing their campaign against Hamas while providing no alternative solution for Israel.
“I don’t want any innocent Palestinian to die, but how do you do this?” Graham asked. “Vice President Harris, tell Israel how to destroy Hamas in a way not to hurt innocent Palestinians, and I will pass it along. I don’t know how to do this, because Hamas is integrated into the apartments, the schools, and the hospitals. They have tunnels all over the place. The reason so many Palestinians are dying is because Hamas wants them to die. So if you have got ideas about lessening civilian casualties, let me know. I will tell Israel, or you tell them directly.”
“But the idea of Hamas still standing when this is over would be the ultimate strategic failure,” he added.
When asked if he thought that too many Palestinian civilians had been killed, Graham noted that in World War II, many civilians were killed as the allies fought against the Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
“Well, tell us how to do it differently,” Graham said. “Yes, what is too many people dying in World War II after Pearl Harbor? Did the American public worry about how many people were dying to destroy Tokyo and Berlin?”
“I know this is not the same, but it’s similar. I mean, after October the 7th, Israel is at total war with Hamas. What they did, you won’t even show on television, probably because you can’t,” he continued. “So, the bottom line here is, no Republican believes this, by the way. No Republican is telling Israel to change your military tactics, because I don’t know how to change them.”
“I think the goal of destroying Hamas is important for Israel, really important for the Palestinians,” he added. “And Hamas is making it impossible for Israel to fight without hurting innocent people.”
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