House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reaffirmed his staunch support for Israel on Wednesday, attributing blame for the deaths of children in Gaza to the militant group Hamas.
Johnson emphasized, during an interview with CNN anchor Erin Burnett, that while civilians have tragically lost their lives, Israel cannot be held responsible.
He placed culpability on Hamas, characterizing them as “terrorists” who deliberately endanger civilians by using them as shields. Johnson asserted that Israel, is striving to minimize civilian casualties while defending its existence against aggression.
House Speaker Johnson (Credits: Politico)
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a loss of life, with over 34,000 Palestinians — primarily women and children — killed since early October, according to local health authorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently reiterated his nation’s commitment to dismantling Hamas and emphasized Israel’s efforts to safeguard civilian lives.
Johnson echoed Netanyahu’s stance, particularly when addressing the recent wave of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the United States. He stopped short of labeling the demonstrations as inherently antisemitic but stressed the importance of distinguishing between the actions of Hamas and Israel’s defensive measures.
Johnson defends Israel over children’s deaths (Credits: Common Dreams)
According to Johnson, the conflict represents a struggle between “good versus evil, light versus darkness, civilization versus barbarism.” He argued that Israel, as America’s stable democratic ally in the Middle East, deserves unwavering support in its fight against terrorism.
Recently, Johnson led the House in passing a substantial foreign aid bill, which includes nearly $26 billion for Israel along with humanitarian assistance for Gaza and other regions in need. This legislative action underscores the commitment of the United States to stand by Israel escalating tensions in the region.
