Graham Rejects Any Gaza Deal That Leaves Hamas Intact

Senator Lindsey Graham isn’t mincing words no peace deal in Gaza is worth the paper it’s written on if Hamas remains standing.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week at the White House, Graham fired off a blunt warning on X that cuts through diplomatic fog. “Israel must be allowed to defend itself and finish the job.”

This isn’t just political rhetoric it’s a line in the sand.

• Graham made clear that any push to halt military operations in Gaza without totally eradicating Hamas is a betrayal of both Israeli security and American principles.

• He also pointed to the true root of regional instability: Iran and its network of terror proxies, not the Israeli government defending its people.

• His comments come in response to reports that Trump was being encouraged to pressure Netanyahu into a premature ceasefire.

Graham’s hard stance reflects what most of the conservative movement already believes: you don’t negotiate with terrorists, you destroy them. Half-measures only invite future bloodshed. The October 7 massacre, where Hamas slaughtered over 1,200 innocent Israelis and kidnapped hundreds more, remains a horrifying reminder of what happens when evil is tolerated instead of eliminated.

And Graham’s not new to this fight. Back in April 2024, he publicly grilled Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a Senate hearing over delays in munitions shipments to Israel delays that came as Israel was actively battling for its survival. He condemned the Biden administration for signaling weakness to Tehran and undermining one of our closest allies in the Middle East.

The South Carolina senator understands what too many in Washington don’t: lasting peace comes after victory, not before it. You don’t stop fighting until the threat is gone. Anything less is appeasement and appeasement, historically, leads to more war, not less.

While President Trump has said he’s confident his plan can end the Israel-Hamas war, Graham’s warning is a necessary counterweight to the usual Washington temptation for political optics over military necessity. If Hamas is allowed to regroup or maintain even a shred of power, the U.S. and Israel will be forced to relive October 7 again and again.

Let’s be honest. The only way forward is through strength. Remove Hamas. Send a clear message to Iran. Only then does peace have a chance to take root.

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