Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., ripped American Hamas sympathizers after the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust during an interview with Sean Hannity this week. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., clapped back that it's Graham who's on the wrong side of the conflict.
"We're in a religious war and I unapologetically Stand with Israel," Graham posted on social media site X on Tuesday, along with a clip of his interview with Hannity.
During his Tuesday interview with the Fox News host, Graham said, "Hamas doesn't want a two-state solution; it wants a one-state solution, the destruction of the Jewish people. The last group that tried to do that were the Germans. Look what happened. Fifty million people died.
"The Israelis, when they say 'never again,' they mean it," he added. "Damn it, they mean it."
Ocasio-Cortez responded to Graham's post by quoting it and said, "This is textbook rhetoric of ethnic cleansing that cannot be accepted in any civil society, let alone the United States.
"It is an affront to humanity to weaponize this horrific trauma to justify the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians," she continued. "It is dangerous and must stop."
Fellow "Squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who has frequently taken heat for remarks deemed antisemitic, also reacted to Graham's post.
"Declaring a holy war on national tv and calling to 'level' a civilian population is over 2 million is dangerous and insane," Omar wrote. "Someone please ask Republicans if they will condemn these repugnant remarks."
Neither progressive lawmaker mentioned the actual ethnic cleansing called for by the leaders of Hamas and Iran, nor did they mention that the militant group has called for a day of global mobilization against Israel.
Former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who is based in Qatar, called for Muslims to "take to the streets Friday" in a worldwide protest.
"To all scholars who teach jihad," he said, "to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application [of jihad]."
Contrary to Omar's suggestion that Graham declared a "holy war," in his interview with Hannity, the South Carolina Republican was referencing the stated aim of Hamas and Iran to purge Israel from the world map.
"To Cornel West and the Black Lives Matter Group who believes that Israel is responsible: That's bulls***," Graham said during his interview. "I thought you were smart people. And the kids at Harvard? You're blaming the Israelis? Please. This is just absolutely appalling, disgusting. To the Secretary General of the United Nations, who I consider a friend: You said today we had to understand this conflict in a greater context. My friend, Hamas doesn't want a two-state solution. They want to kill the Jews just like the Nazis did.
"I am tired of appeasing Hamas, apologizing for them," he said. "They want to kill Israel. So does Iran. The ayatollah wants to destroy the Jewish state. They don't want to coexist with Israel.
"The Germans believed that the Jews were inferior people, and their goal in the final solution was to eradicate the Jewish people," he continued. "Well, Iran and Hamas believes that the Jewish people should die as a result of religious teachings. We're in a religious war. Here I am with Israel. Do whatever the hell you have to do to defend yourself. Level the place."
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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