Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tried to quiet the growing PR battle over the Gaza War, with the U.N. and anti-Israel groups claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is engaged in genocide against Palestinians. Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,400 Israelis Oct. 7, including 260 attending the Nova Music Festival near the Gaza border. Whether Hamas terrorists were amped on drugs or not, butchered in Nazi-ISIS-like fashion Israeli infants, children, women and elderly in vicious fashion, not seen since the WW II Holocaust where 6 million Jews were systematically exterminated by the Nazi regime. Whataever happened on Oct. 7, Netanyahu viewed the slaughter as Israel’s Sept. 11, promptly declaring war on Hamas Oct. 8. Since a relentless bombing campaign, Hamas claims a slaughter of Palestinian children. Israel has been, as in other Gaza Wars, losing the propaganda war.
Graham said no one in WW II or other conflicts since then, used civilian casualties as an excuse to abandon the political objectives for defeating dictators and other global tyrants. “Is there a threshold for you,” asked Abby Philip. “And do you think there should be one for the United States government in which the U.S. would say, ‘Let’s hold off for a second in terms of civilian casualties?’” “No,” Graham replied. “Is there a point [where] you would start to question tactics,”” asked Philip. “No,” Graham replied Philip presents the Hamas propaganda that Israel is engaged in war crimes because its war against Hamas creates war crimes by displacing children and families. Graham doesn’t buy the Hamas propaganda offensive to condemn Israel because children and families become collateral damage, as Israeli Defense Forces [IDF] seek to end Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas seized control in Gaza June 14, 2007 from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority led by 87-year-old Mahmoud Hamas. Hamas has become a proxy of the mullah regime in Iran, who uses the Israeli issue to rally support for the mullah regime. Iran has developed a network of proxy terrorists to advance its anti-Semitic agenda, now using Yemen’s Houthi rebels to fight a proxy war against Israel. U.S. and Israel plans to vigorously defend itself against any attempt by Iran’s proxies to wage war against the Jewish State. Two U.S. carrier strike groups in the Mediterranean off the coast of Israel plan to deal with any Houthi attacks. Supplied missiles and drones by Iran, Houthis have battled Saudi Arabia since 2015. Now Iran has paid Houthis to open up a new battle-front against Israel in its war against Hamas. Iran wants Hamas to succeed in destroying Israel and killing all Jews.
Graham makes the argument that collateral damage is sometimes necessary to achieve military objectives, just like in WW II where the U.S. and allies killed thousands of civilians in order to defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. “If somebody asked us after WW II, ‘Is there a limit what would you do to make sure that Japan and Germany don’t conquer the woorld? Is there any limit to what Israel should do to the people who are trying to slaughter the Jews?” This is no, “There is no limit,” Graham told Philip. U.N. and global pressure on Israel for a ceasefire hasn’t swayed President Joe Biden, prompting pro-Palestinian street demonstrations. Since seizing power in 2007, Hamas has started four wars with Israel, all ending in the same outcome, devastation to civilians in Gaza. Hamas propaganda promises Gaza citizens that it will conquer Israel and get Palestinians back their land.
Hamas has received untold billions from rich Arab Gulf States all for rebuilding Gaza after destroyed by Israel over the course of its four wars. Arab Gulf State spent billions rebuilding Gaza after the 2014, telling Hamas that the Gulf States would not tolerate more Hamas destruction in the future. Hamas took some 240 hostages Oct. 7 immediately threatening to kill them all if Israel dared to retaliate. After three weeks the Hamas Ministry of Health says over 8,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli bombing attacks, something only verified by Hamas. Biden doubted the veracity of Hamas’ reported casualties, prompting outrage by Arab officials. Whatever the casualties in Gaza, the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure looks worse than any prior Iraeli-Hamas war. Graham believes that Israel has a right to self-defense, whatever the collateral damage.
Whatever the hue-and-cry for a ceasefire, Hamas could end the conflict by releasing all hostages and renouncing violence against Israel. Hamas continues its original charter founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 1987 to destroy the Jewish State and kill all Jews. Hamas has never accepted any of the peace agreements signed by Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO] founder Yasser Arafat and Palestinian Authority [PA] chief Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas, while appearing more amenable, actually uses Hamas to exact concessions from Israel. So, when it comes to a peace partner, Israel really doesn’t have one. Graham agrees with Netanyahu that Israel fights for its survival against an implacable enemy hell-best on its destruction. Unless the U.N. or other Arab leaders can get Hamas to give up the hostages and recognize Israel, it’s doubtful the Gaza War will end anytime soon.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.
