Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday charted a new strategy for Israel in its war with Hamas, with the chances of a diplomatic solution to the conflict appearing increasingly remote.
"I think Israel's come to conclude that they can't achieve a goal of ending the war with Hamas that would be satisfactory to the safety of Israel and that they're going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin," he told NBC's Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press," referencing the end of World War II.
"Take the place by force then start over again, presenting a better future for the Palestinians, hopefully having the Arabs take over the West Bank and Gaza."
Graham's comments come as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached crisis levels. Roughly a quarter of the exclave's population is facing famine-like conditions, a U.N. World Food Programme official said last Monday. Democrats, international partners and even podcaster and comedian Theo Von are imploring both the U.S. and Israel to substantially increase the flow of aid into Gaza.
Israel's military on Sunday paused fighting in three major population centers inside Gaza to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid. Airdrops of aid have also resumed in the area.
"Israel is going to work with the U.N., the World Food Programme, to get some food into these people, who need it," Graham told Welker.
But even against that backdrop, the likelihood of a negotiated peace appears murky. The White House exited diplomatic talks with Hamas last week, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff concluding that the U.S.-designated terrorist group "does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith."
"I think they want to die," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday.
Israel occupied Gaza, which had been an Egyptian territory, in the 6-Day War of 1967, and it had retained forces there until June 2005; since then it has periodically sent forces into the territory in response to incursions from Hamas or to prevent them.
Graham said he agreed with the president that talks with the militant group Hamas were futile.
"I think President Trump has come to believe, and I've certainly come to believe, there's no way you're going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization who is chartered to destroy the state of Israel," he told Welker. "They're religious Nazis."
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