‘Hamas must not be allowed to regroup, re-arm, and conduct new attacks,’ Clinton wrote.
In an op-ed for The Atlantic published on Tuesday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton advocated for Hamas’ annihilation and said President Biden was correct not to pursue a complete cease-fire.
Clinton discussed her experience with the Middle East conflict as Secretary of State under the Obama administration, noting that Hamas violated a cease-fire agreement she mediated in the region in 2014.
“As a result, the Biden administration is correct not to seek a full cease-fire at this time, as this would allow Hamas to re-arm and perpetuate the cycle of violence.” “Hamas would claim victory and would remain a key component of Iran’s so-called axis of resistance,” she said. “Cease-fires freeze conflicts rather than resolve them.”
At an event in October, Clinton told a group of activists that a cease-fire would be a “gift” to Hamas.
“First, October 7 made clear that this bloody cycle must end and that Hamas cannot be allowed to once again retrench, re-arm, and launch new attacks—while continuing to use people in Gaza as expendable human shields,” she said in a statement.
She went on to say that a “full cease-fire” that leaves Hamas in control would be a “mistake.”
“That is why I am convinced Hamas must be defeated.” These terrorists murdered newborns, raped women, and kidnapped innocent civilians on October 7. They are still holding around 200 captives. They have repeatedly demonstrated that they will not respect cease-fires, will sabotage any efforts to establish a sustainable peace, and will never stop targeting Israel,” Clinton wrote.
The former Secretary of State also stated that she believed the “humanitarian pauses” advocated by the Biden administration would save lives while not “rewarding Hamas.”
Clinton also stated that Hamas does not speak on behalf of Palestinians.
“Hamas deliberately places military installations in and beneath hospitals and refugee camps in order to maximize, rather than minimize, the impact on Palestinian civilians for its own propaganda purposes.” “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is heartbreaking—every death means more blood on Hamas’s hands,” she added.
Clinton recently told the hosts of “The View” that she favors humanitarian pauses but stressed that Hamas is a terrorist organization that has historically violated cease-fires.
“A cease-fire done prematurely benefits those who do not abide by any laws, rules, or human character value about the value of life,” she said.
“For now, Israel should focus on freeing the hostages, increasing humanitarian aid, protecting civilians, and ensuring that Hamas terrorists can no longer murder families, abduct children, exploit civilians as human shields, or start new wars,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote in the Atlantic.