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With Hamas refusing to agree to peace terms, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Israel should finish the war in Gaza in a manner comparable to how the United States defeated Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in World War II.
“There is no future for the Palestinian people as long as Hamas is around,” Graham said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. “So all I can say is that you’re going to see, I think, in the next days and weeks, a military effort to destroy Hamas, akin to what we did in Tokyo and Berlin to destroy the Nazis and the Japanese.”
Graham expressed hope that hostages held by Hamas would be released but said the terrorist group must surrender or be eliminated, echoing President Donald Trump’s Friday warning.
“I think there are people maybe in the Hamas organization that would accept safe passage if they release the hostages,” Graham told host Kristen Welker. “If I were Israel, I’d make that offer to Hamas fighters. You can leave safely. We want our hostages back.”
However, Graham warned that Israel can’t continue to endure a prolonged war with mounting military casualties based only on “hope” that hostages—used as human shields—will survive.
“But here’s the problem Israel has: They’re losing soldiers four and five a week,” he added. “I hope and pray the hostages will come back. Hamas could end this tomorrow by laying down their weapons and releasing the hostages.”
As humanitarian aid flows into Gaza amid concerns Hamas could seize it, Graham emphasized the need for a shift in approach to end the conflict.
“Here’s some good news for the people in Gaza: Humanitarian corridors are now going to be open,” Graham said. “Israel is going to work with the U.N., the World Food Program, to get some food into these people who need it.
“But I think what the topic we’re talking about today is a change in strategy. I think President Trump has come to believe, and I certainly come to believe, there’s no way you’re going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization who is chartered to destroy the state of Israel. They’re religious Nazis. They hold Israeli hostages. I think Israel has come to conclude that they can’t achieve a goal of ending the war with Hamas that would be satisfactory to the safety of Israel.
“If they’re going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin: take the place by force, then start over again, presenting a better future for the Palestinians hopefully having the Arabs take over the West Bank and Gaza.
“But I think going forward, Kristen, you’re going to see a change in tactics, a full military effort by Israel to take Gaza down like we did in Tokyo and Berlin.”
