What Nikki Haley wrote on fresh artillery shells during visit to Israel days after IDF's refugee zone airstrike left 45 dead
- The UN ambassador wrote the message during a visit to Israel's northern border
- Donald Trump recently ruled Haley out of nominating the former governor as VP
Former GOP presidential candidate and Donald Trump's UN ambassador Nikki Haley wrote 'finish them' on an IDF shell in reference to Hamas just after the devastating attack on refugees in Rafah that left 45 people dead.
Haley, 52, was touring Israel's northern border with Lebanon when the photo opportunity took place. The former governor of South Carolina also wrote: 'America loves Israel.'
The picture was originally posted on X by Israel's former UN ambassador, Danny Danon. Danon is a member of Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud party and is considered a strong advocate for continued military operations against Hamas.
When asked about her message, Haley was defensive, using the opportunity instead to attack President Joe Biden, accusing him of withholding support for Israel in order to slow down the IDF operations in Rafah.
Haley was also critical of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice's efforts to try the Israeli government for war crimes.
Nikki Haley, 52, was touring Israel's northern border with Lebanon when the photo opportunity took place. The former governor of South Carolina also wrote: 'America loves Israel'
Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation in Rafah on May 28
Danny Danon's tweet which accompanied the pictures of Haley signing the shell
'What America needs to understand is if Israel’s fighting our enemies, how can we not help them,' Haley said.
'The sure way to not help Israel is to withhold weapons. The sure way to not help Israel is to praise the ICC, the ICJ or any of those that are condemning Israel instead of condemning what happens.'
'America needs to do whatever Israel needs and stop telling them how to fight this war. You are either a friend or not a friend.'
In his tweet, Danon said ominously: 'The time has come to change the equation.'
'The residents of Tyre and Sidon will evacuate, the residents of the north will return,' he added.
The city of Tyre is 12 miles south of Lebanon's border with Israel and Sidon is 20 miles further down the coast.
Recently, Haley attracted criticism after her announcement that she would vote for ex-President Donald Trump in the November election.
During the pair's battles on the primary campaign trail, Haley called Trump 'dangerous' and tried to convince supporters he was not fit for the office of president.
'What America needs to understand is, if Israel’s fighting our enemies, how can we not help them? America needs to do whatever Israel needs and stop telling them how to fight this war,' Haley said in announcing her support for Trump.
Trump has ruled her out of contention to be his vice president, but she is a potential presidential runner in 2028.
Haley also met with survivors of Hamas' brutal October 7 assault during the trip
The White House said Tuesday that President Joe Biden has no plans to change his Israel policy following a deadly weekend strike on Rafah but that he is not turning a 'blind eye' to the plight of Palestinian civilians.
On her recent visit to the Jewish state, Haley also toured southern Israel where she met survivors of Hamas' brutal assault on October 7 which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 253 others.
In the wake of that attack, more than 30,000 Palestinians, including large numbers of young children, have died in waves of Israeli attacks.
Haley's messaging was strongly criticized by human rights activists.
'Nikki Haley shows who she is. As Israeli bombardment has killed far more Palestinian civilians than combatants, she signs a bomb, "Finish them." Why not just sign, "I favor Israeli war crimes,"' former Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth said.
