Lindsey Graham says there is 'no limit' to the number of civilians it's justifiable for Israel to kill in its war on Hamas
- US Sen. Lindsey Graham defended Israel's retaliatory attacks on Gaza.
- Graham said there was no limit to his support for Israel, despite mounting casualties.
US Sen. Lindsey Graham said that there is "no limit" to the number of civilians it's justifiable for Israel to kill in its war on Hamas.
Speaking on CNN Tuesday, the South Carolina Republican was asked about the mounting civilian death toll from Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.
"Is there a threshold for you?" host Abby Philip said. "And do you think there should be one for the United States government in which the US 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?" she asked.
"No," said Graham, and sought to draw parallels between Israel's attacks on Gaza and World War II.
"If somebody asked us after World War II, 'Is there a limit what would you do to make sure that Japan and Germany don't conquer the world? Is there any limit to what Israel should do to the people who are trying to slaughter the Jews?' The answer is no. There is no limit," said Graham.
"But here's what you need to do. Be smart. Let's try to limit civilian casualties the best we can. Let's put humanitarian aid in areas that protect the innocent. I'm all for that. But this idea that Israel has to apologize for attacking Hamas, who's embedded with their own population, needs to stop. The goal is to destroy Hamas. Hamas is creating these casualties ) not Israel."
Israel's military operation, according to Gaza's health ministry, has killed more than 8,500 people. It was launched in response to the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, which killed 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals, according to Israeli officials.
On Tuesday, an airstrike that Israel said killed a senior Hamas commander struck a refugee camp in northern Gaza killing 50 people, according to health authorities.
The Biden administration has declared its backing for Israel's response to the October 7 attacks, but senior officials have in recent days been more critical of Israel's response amid the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza.