Vivek Ramaswamy wants Israel to be clear on war objectives before US support is granted

Vivek Ramaswamy has voiced his opposition to President Joe Biden’s proposed aid package for Israel, and believes any future U.S. support should be contingent on the Jewish state clearly stating its objects in the war with Hamas.

The 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, who on Friday warned that a ground invasion into Gaza “is likely to be a disaster”, believes Israel could become embroiled in a regional war in the Middle East that is likely to attract the likes of Hezbollah.

“Israel is barreling toward a potentially catastrophic ground invasion of Gaza without clear objectives,” Ramaswamy said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner on Saturday. “‘Destroy Hamas’ is not on its own a viable or coherent strategy.

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Ramaswamy cautioned that a regional war “does not advance American interests,” and any support that comes from the Biden administration needs to come with clear boundaries.

“The U.S. should be clear with Israel that further U.S. support is contingent on Israel identifying clear objectives for success in Gaza and a coherent plan for what comes after toppling Hamas, even if Israel is successful in doing so. As of now, these critical questions remain unanswered.”

On Friday, Biden sent Congress a supplemental funding request that totals more than $100 billion and includes $14 billion for Israel. That came a day after his Oval Office address to the nation in which he laid out the case for providing aid. Ramaswamy wants lawmakers to vote against the aid package, citing the U.S. national debt of $33 trillion as a major factor.

Ramaswamy’s comments come after Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant, laid out three planned phases of its already-declared war with Hamas.

Currently, Israel is in the first phase, which includes the hundreds of airstrikes that have hit Gaza and pending ground offensive designed to “defeat and destroy Hamas,” Gallant said, according to the Times of Israel. The second step will be to “eliminate pockets of resistance.”

Gallant continued: “The third step will be the creation of a new security regime in the Gaza Strip, the removal of Israel’s responsibility for day-to-day life in the Gaza Strip, and the creation of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel and the residents of the [area surrounding Gaza].”

Hamas has been in power in the Gaza Strip since shortly after Israel withdrew from the territory in 2005, but two weeks ago launched the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel’s 75-year history.

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Ramaswamy is currently polling at 5.3% in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls in the 2024 Republican presidential race, behind former president Donald Trump (59.1%), Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis (12.8%) and former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (7.4%). Ramaswamy has hinted he might skip the third Republican debate, due to take place in Miami, Fl, later this month.