Portrait of Nikki Haley
Politician · country
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Nikki Haley on Gaza

Strong Israel ally (strong)

TL;DR

Nikki Haley strongly supports Israel's military actions in Gaza and advocates for decisively defeating Hamas.

Key Points

  • She wrote "Finish Them!" on an Israeli artillery shell during a May 2024 visit to Israel, drawing significant international criticism.

  • Haley advocates that Arab countries, such as Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, should take in Palestinian refugees instead of the U.S.

  • She has consistently stated that the U.S. should support Israel without placing conditions on how it fights the war against Hamas.

Summary

Nikki Haley's core position regarding Gaza is one of unequivocal support for Israel's military campaign against Hamas, a stance highlighted by her recent, highly controversial visit to Israel. During this visit, she wrote the message "Finish Them!" on an artillery shell in the company of an Israeli politician, a move she suggested was in line with her long-standing belief that Hamas must be eliminated permanently. This action drew immediate condemnation from human rights organizations, who called the message sociopathic and genocidal, noting the high civilian casualty rate from Israeli strikes.

Her position is also characterized by a demand that Arab nations take responsibility for Palestinian refugees rather than the United States, stating that countries like Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt should accept them because they do not want Hamas in their own regions. Furthermore, Haley has opposed allowing Gazans into the U.S., suggesting that Hamas-supporting nations should instead accommodate them. This firm, uncompromising stance aligns with her earlier warnings about Hamas threats and her criticism of the sitting president for telling Israel how to conduct its war.

Key Quotes

“Where are the Arab countries? Where are they? Where is Qatar? Where is Lebanon? Where is Jordan? Where is Egypt? Why aren't they taking the Palestinians? You know why? Because they know they can't vet them, and they don't want Hamas in their neighborhood.”

“America needs to do whatever Israel needs and stop telling them how to fight this war,”

Frequently Asked Questions

Nikki Haley maintains a position of strong support for Israel's military operations in Gaza, advocating for the complete destruction of Hamas. She expressed this view publicly by visiting Israel and signing an artillery shell with the phrase "Finish Them!" during a tour. Her stance includes opposing the U.S. taking in Gazan refugees and urging Arab nations to assume that responsibility.

During a May 2024 visit to Israel, Nikki Haley wrote the message "Finish Them!" with a marker on an artillery shell. She also wrote, "America Loves Israel Always!" on the same ordnance. This action generated widespread condemnation from human rights advocates who criticized the gesture given the ongoing conflict.

Her core message of strong support for Israel's right to defend itself and the need to eliminate Hamas has been consistent across her recent political activities. While her focus has shifted since suspending her presidential campaign, her rhetoric regarding the conflict remains firmly aligned with the Israeli government's objectives. Her campaign materials previously highlighted her long-standing warnings about the group.