Senator Graham warns Trump administration not to pressure Israel into a premature deal, insisting Hamas must be destroyed to prevent another October 7.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies, has drawn a clear red line in Washington’s Middle East debate—insisting that Israel must not be pressured to halt its war until Hamas is permanently destroyed.
“When it comes to terrorist threats, Israel must be allowed to defend itself and finish the job,” Graham declared in a forceful post on X, signaling resistance to White House efforts to secure a compromise-driven end to the war.
While Graham emphasized his support for a long-term vision of peace in the region, he made it crystal clear that a ceasefire which leaves Hamas standing is unacceptable. “I do not support ending major military operations if it means that Hamas is not eliminated forever and does not ensure that there will never be another October 7,” he wrote.
The senator laid the blame where Israel has for years: on Tehran. “From my point of view, Israel is not the problem; it is Iran and its proxies that are the problem,” he stressed, echoing Jerusalem’s warnings that Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terror groups are fueled by Iran’s regional ambitions.
Graham’s defiant stance came after Axios revealed that a senior Trump adviser involved in the administration’s peace push suggested Netanyahu could soon be blamed if no deal is reached. “If Netanyahu does not agree, the White House will see him at fault for prolonging the war, enabling Hamas and doing nothing for Palestinians who have humanitarian needs,” the adviser was quoted as saying.
The adviser added that Arab states are already on board: “The Arabs have agreed to it like 100%. Now we’re waiting for the president to work his magic on Netanyahu.”
For Graham, however, the message is simple: forcing Israel into premature concessions only empowers Hamas and endangers both Israelis and Palestinians. The only way to ensure lasting peace, he argues, is to finish Hamas once and for all.
