Senator Lindsey Graham warned that halting aid to Israel could lead to divine repercussions for the United States.
Senator Lindsey Graham cautioned against reducing U.S. assistance to Israel, suggesting it could invite divine punishment upon the nation.
The Republican senator voiced these concerns at the Silver Elephant Gala in South Carolina, a major fundraising event for the party. He later shared his remarks on social media on Wednesday. Graham lauded Israel, claiming it had avoided committing “genocide” in Gaza, despite allegedly having the capacity to do so.
“Israel is our friend, our most reliable ally in the Middle East. It’s a democracy surrounded by hostile entities,” Graham stated, arguing that diminishing support for Israel would have divine consequences for the U.S.
If America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us.
The senator’s comments followed Israel’s announcement of plans to occupy Gaza City, a region currently outside Israeli military control.
The plan, presented by Israel as a means to “concluding the war” with Hamas, which has lasted almost two years, has been largely criticized in the West. International organizations and countries have condemned the occupation plan, with the exception of the U.S., which has remained relatively silent. Prior to the plan’s release, then-President Donald Trump stated that the decision to fully occupy Gaza was “pretty much up to Israel.”
Graham, a staunch supporter of Israel for many years, previously advocated for a full occupation of Gaza, deeming it the only way to resolve the conflict to Israel’s satisfaction.
“They’re going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin: take the place by force and start over again,” Graham remarked in late July, implying that Washington, the mediator in the stalled peace process, believed that there was no way “to negotiate an end of this war.”