The 2024 presidential candidates have come out in support of Israel in response to the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas launching attacks on the Jewish state.
At least 900 people in Israel have been killed in the Hamas attacks, which have consisted of rockets, shootings, rapes and hostage-taking. Approximately 300 people have been killed on the Palestinian side of the conflict.
"Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation," he added. "My administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering."
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"I predicted war in Israel immediately after it was announced that Joe Biden gave the $6 billion to Iran," he added.
"The scenes of brutality are hard to watch. Innocent men, women, children, and the elderly," said the Florida governor in a statement.
"Hamas committed these acts for two simple reasons: They hate the Jewish people, and they are evil cowards," he added. "They were empowered by Joe Biden’s appeasement of Iran and a desire to ruin further normalization of ties within the Arab world with Israel."
Mr. DeSantis called on President Biden to enact a three-step plan: freeze any funds the United States has made available to Iran, cease any financial support for Hamas, and "immediately shut down America’s wide-open southern border to ensure we are in a position to better protect Americans here at home from these real threats."
“Saturday’s terrorist massacre in Israel, murdering hundreds of innocent Israelis and at least nine innocent Americans, is another moment of moral clarity,” Ms. Haley said in a statement on Oct. 9.
“The fanatic Hamas terrorist group must be destroyed. But Hamas is only a small symptom of a larger disease," she continued. "Iran, Russia, and China are in league together, attacking Americans, American allies, and American values. This is a battle between the civilized world and barbarians. America must stand up for our citizens, our values, and our friends.
“Today, many are rallying to Israel’s side, as they should. But history has taught us that such support is often short-lived. There will be tough days and weeks ahead. Our commitment to Israel must not waver. It is central to our own security and to who we are as a country.”
Ms. Haley called for a four-step action plan: give Israel military and intelligence assistance, warn regional governments against escalating the conflict, cease U.S. backing of Palestinian entities or "United Nations-backed entities that side with Hamas or fail to denounce antisemitic activity," and freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets the U.S. freed up in a prisoner exchange last month.
She added the United States should reimpose and enforce sanctions on Iran and buyers of Iranian oil.
"This is what happens when America's president projects weakness on the world stage, kowtows to the mullahs in Iran with a $6 billion ransom, and leaders in the Republican Party signal American retreat as Leader of the Free World," he continued. "Weakness arouses evil."
Appearing on CNN, Mr. Pence blamed both President Biden and former President Trump, whom he served under, for the ongoing situation in Israel. “But let me begin where we ought to start. I mean, that disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan has emboldened the enemies of freedom around the world,” he said.
"And now war is raging in Eastern Europe. And President Joe Biden’s kowtowing for the last two-and-a-half years to the mullahs in Iran, lifting sanctions, begging them to get back in the Iran nuclear deal, and then paying $6 billion in a ransom for hostages, I think set the conditions for this unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel.
"But I also believe this is what happens when we have leading voices like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis signaling retreat from America’s role as leader of the free world."
"There are reports of American citizens among the hostages taken by the Iran-directed Hamas terrorist organization. [This] Follows $6 billion Biden paid for five Americans taken by Iran and billions more in sanctions relief already provided.
"America's weakness is blood in the water for bad actors, but this is worse than that. We didn’t just invite this aggression, we paid for it. Iran is the biggest funder of Hamas. This is the Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work.
"Israel must defend its people and the nation, and the United States must do everything we can to assist our ally Israel.
"As Psalm 122:6 encourages us, we must pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
"The Hamas war against Israel is now the second war started under Biden’s failed presidency, first by Russia in Ukraine and now by Hamas in Israel. Both could have been deterred by strong American leadership," he continued. "Under my presidency, America will restore the deterrence Biden has foolishly given away."
