Former presidential candidate Nikki Haley offered comfort to Israeli communities affected by the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack during a visit to the Israel-Gaza border on Memorial Day.
Haley, 52, assured citizens of Middle Eastern allies that the United States would continue to support Israel despite a wave of anti-Israel protests in the country.
“To all Israelis, I say this: America stands with you. The American people stand with you. 1,200 people were brutally murdered. Don’t forget what happened on October 7th,” Haley said in a video posted to X by Likud lawmaker Danny Danon, who accompanied her on the trip.
“Because Hamas has threatened to do it again. It is our duty to make sure that it never happens again,” Haley continued.
Danon praised Haley’s record on Israel, calling her a “staunch defender of the Jewish people.”
“I wholeheartedly welcome the arrival of our esteemed friend, Ambassador Nikki Haley, to Israel,” Danon said. Post to X.
Haley served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under former President Donald Trump from 2017 to the end of 2018, during which she stressed her support for Israel and clashed with critics of the Jewish state.
Her visit also included a tour of Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was the site of a brutal attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, during the “Nova” music festival.
She spoke to survivors nearby who recounted the harrowing and emotional events that took place that day.
Footage showed her wiping tears from her eyes as she listened to horrifying stories from survivors.
Haley called for the removal of Hamas and the release of the remaining hostages being held by the terrorist group.
At one point, Haley placed responsibility for the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre on Russia, China and Iran, highlighting Hamas’ complex planning behind the bloody attack.
“China has been funding Iran all this time. Russian intelligence helped Iran know where everything was. Iran helped train them. So this is not Hamas.” She said.
“If we are truly determined to never let this happen again, we must be honest and sincere with ourselves for doing this.”
Haley did not provide any evidence implicating China or Russia directly in the attack, but both countries are known to support Iran, which backs Hamas.
She also pointed to the suspension of shipments of heavy bombs to Israel amid the standoff over Rafah and openly criticized President Biden, saying “the surest way not to support Israel is to withhold weapons.” According to The Times of Israel.
Haley was the last major contender to challenge the 77-year-old Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
She managed to win tens of thousands of votes in the Republican primary a few months after dropping out of the race.
Last week, Haley said she would vote for Trump in the November 5 presidential election, after which Trump said he believed Haley “would be part of our team in some way.”
