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Republican presidential candidates broadly agreed at Wednesday’s primary debate that the United States must steadfastly support Israel’s military efforts to eliminate Hamas, and at no point expressed support for efforts to provide humanitarian aid in a war that has displaced more than a million Gazans and killed thousands in Israel and Gaza.
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Onstage at the debate hosted by NBC News, the candidates were asked about their stance on the Israel-Gaza war that began one month ago with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,400. The candidates were tough on Iran, Biden’s approach to the Middle East conflict and antisemitism on American soil, but they did not explain beyond simple terms how a group like Hamas could be eliminated or how they would help repatriate hostages held by the militant group.
When asked what recommendations, should they become president, they would give to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would tell him to “finish the job once and for all with these butchers.”
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“They’re terrorists, they’re massacring innocent people,” he said of Hamas. “I’m sick of hearing other people blame Israel just for defending itself.”
Haley calls Ramaswamy ‘scum’ after he brings up her daughter during clash over TikTok
Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley said she would encourage Netanyahu to “finish them.”
“I worked on this every day when I was at the United Nations,” she added. “They have to … eliminate Hamas,” she said and noted she’d give Israel the support it needs and work to free the hostages.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) laid the blame at the feet of the past two Democratic presidents.
“I’ve said that there’s blood dripping from the hands of President Obama and President Biden,” the senator said.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy compared Israel’s borders to the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I would tell him to smoke those terrorists on his southern border. And then I’d tell him as president of the United States, I’ll be smoking the terrorists on our southern border,” he remarked.
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And former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said Netanyahu must “make sure that Hamas can never do this again,” becoming the first onstage Wednesday to criticize Israel’s intelligence community for failing to thwart Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.
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Candidates also took video questions from Matthew Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, which co-sponsored the debate, about whether the United States should use military force in Iran and what they say to Jewish college students “who feel unsafe given the dramatic rise in antisemitism.”
Scott maintained that federal funding for universities and access to student visas are a privilege, not a right — alluding that schools that allow antisemitism on campus and the students perpetrating it could be stripped of those privileges.
Trump flexes dominance with counter-programming to debate
DeSantis argued that Biden should have the Justice Department on college campuses “and holding the universities accountable for civil rights violations.” He also dismissed recent White House efforts to address Islamophobia.
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“Not only is he not helping the Jewish students who were being persecuted, he is launching an initiative to combat so-called Islamophobia,” the Florida governor said. “No, it’s the antisemitism that’s spiraling out of control. That is what we have to confront.”
Scott joined DeSantis in expressing support for deporting students who criticize Israel or join pro-Palestinian protests. However, experts have said that probably violates freedom of speech.
Haley equated the situation to colleges being permissive of the Ku Klux Klan.
“If the KKK were doing this, every college president would be up in arms. This is no different. You should treat it exactly the same. Antisemitism is just as awful as racism, and we’ve got to make sure they’re protected,” she said. “For everybody that’s protesting on these college campuses in favor of Hamas. Let me remind you something Hamas said: ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America.’ They hate and would kill you too.”
2024 presidential candidates Catch up on the winners and losers of the third Republican debate. Compare where the 2024 presidential candidates stand on key issues like abortion, climate, and the economy.
Republicans: Top contenders for the GOP 2024 nomination include former president Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Trump U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley. Here is The Post’s ranking of the top 10 Republican presidential candidates for 2024.
Democrats: President Biden is running for reelection in 2024. Here is The Post’s ranking of the top 10 Democratic presidential candidates for 2024.
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