Jerusalem, November 24, 2024 — U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on Sunday called for potential military action against Hamas and Hezbollah should they fail to disarm, asserting that Hamas is actively strengthening its position in Gaza. This comes as fragile ceasefires attempt to hold after years of conflict.
Ceasefire Challenges and Calls for Disarmament
The senator’s remarks underscore growing concerns about the long-term viability of the current truce and the need for a definitive resolution to the presence of armed groups in the region.
- A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, beginning in October, has so far halted two years of war, though violations are reported.
- A separate ceasefire with Hezbollah came into effect in November 2024, but Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue.
- Graham urged President Trump to authorize Israel to “finish off Hamas” if disarmament doesn’t occur.
- The senator voiced strong opposition to Turkey’s potential inclusion in a stabilization force for Gaza.
The Republican senator, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, made the statements during a visit to Israel. He emphasized the urgency of establishing a clear plan for Hamas’s disarmament, stating, “It’s imperative we come up with a plan quickly, put Hamas on a time clock, give them a period of time to achieve the goal of disarmament.”
Graham continued, “And if you don’t, I would encourage President Trump to unleash Israel to go finish off Hamas.” He argued that lasting regional stability is impossible without dismantling Hamas’s power in Gaza, calling it a “long, brutal war” but a necessary one. “You cannot be successful anywhere in the region until you deliver in dealing Hamas out of the future of Gaza and disarming them,” he added.
According to Graham, Hamas has been “consolidating power in Gaza” within 90 days of the ceasefire’s implementation. He also called for military engagement against Hezbollah if the Lebanese group does not relinquish its weapons.
“If Hezbollah refuses to give up their heavy weapons, down the road we should engage in military operations working with Lebanon, Israel and the United States, where we fly with Israel… to take Hezbollah out,” Graham said.
Opposition to Turkey’s Role in Stabilization Force
The Lebanese government has initiated efforts to disarm Hezbollah, beginning in the south of the country, and maintains it will complete the process. However, Israel has expressed doubts about the Lebanese military’s effectiveness, and Hezbollah has consistently refused to disarm.
Graham’s comments followed a day after mediators – the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey – appealed to both sides to uphold the ceasefire. These mediators are currently focused on implementing the second phase of the truce, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilization force, and the establishment of an interim governing authority to replace Hamas.
The second phase also envisions the demilitarization of Gaza, specifically the disarmament of Hamas. Graham firmly opposed the inclusion of Turkey in the stabilization force, asserting it would be deeply unsettling for Israel. “There is no political support anywhere in Israel for having Turkey being involved in the stabilising force,” he stated.
Hamas, for its part, has urged the mediators and Washington to address what it describes as Israeli “violations” of the ceasefire in Gaza. On Sunday, the civil defence agency, operating under Hamas’s authority, reported Israeli artillery shelling in various parts of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. Earlier, on Friday, the agency reported six fatalities, including two children, resulting from an Israeli bombing of a school serving as a shelter for displaced individuals.
