10 US senators visit Israel to express support: ‘Destroying Hamas is non-negotiable’

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

US Senator Lindsey Graham speaks at a press conference alongside nine other US senators at a hotel in Tel Aviv on October 22, 2023. (Screenshot)
US Senator Lindsey Graham speaks at a press conference alongside nine other US senators at a hotel in Tel Aviv on October 22, 2023. (Screenshot)

Leading a bipartisan US Senate delegation of five Republicans and five Democrats, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham says that “destroying Hamas is non-negotiable.”

“How do we do it? Let’s talk,” says Graham in Tel Aviv. “What is winning? For the terrorist organization to be destroyed, for the people of Israel to have the sense of peace they’ve lost, for the Palestinian people to have hope they don’t have, and for the Arabs and Israelis to end a conflict that would make the world better.”

“How does this end? Israel thrives, they survive, Hamas is destroyed, the Palestinian people have a better life.”

The group met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman yesterday and urged him to offer funds to sustain the Gazan people until Hamas is destroyed. They also met families of hostages taken by Hamas. Graham says he believes that Iran, through Hamas, tried to stop Israel-Saudi peace: “My goal is for them to fail.”

Graham adds that 10 percent of the US Senate is currently in Israel “because we care… I come here because I love Israel. I do not hate Palestinians. I hate Hamas.”

Graham also has stark words of warning for Tehran: “We’re here today to tell Iran, we’re watching you,” says Graham. “If this war grows, it’s coming to your backyard. There won’t be two fronts, there will be three.”

“If these innocent hostages get slaughtered, I hold you, Iran, accountable because you could stop it if you chose to. The idea this happened without Iranian involvement is laughable,” adds Graham. “For Iran to fail, the Middle East needs to come together, marching toward the light, and away from the darkness.”

Speaking after Graham, Maryland Democrat Sen. Ben Cardin concurs that “at the end of the day, Hamas must be eliminated.” He adds that “we must mindful of the innocent people caught in this web.”

“There is no future with Hamas” for the Palestinians, says Cardin.

“Hamas hates the Jewish people, and cares nothing about the Palestinian people,” says Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Jack Reed.

The group also includes Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Katie Britt (R-Alabama).

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