Nikki Haley writes 'Finish Them' on Israeli artillery shell, drawing criticism
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An image of Mrs Haley crouched in front of pallets of shells, writing with a marker on one, was shared on social media.
PHOTOS: BLOOMBERG, X
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WASHINGTON - Republican former presidential contender Nikki Haley wrote "Finish Them!" on an Israeli artillery shell during a recent visit to Israel, amid an ongoing assault on Gaza that has left tens of thousands dead in the past eight months.
An image of Mrs Haley crouched in front of pallets of shells, writing with a marker on one, was shared on social media by Mr Danny Danon, an Israeli politician and former ambassador to the United Nations.
A second image he shared showed Mrs Haley's signed message: "Finish them - America [HEART] Israel, Always."
Mr Danon had accompanied Mrs Haley, a former US ambassador to the United Nations when Donald Trump was president, during the visit this past weekend.
Mrs Haley was quickly criticised for the message by human rights groups.
"Conflict is no place for stunts. Conflict has rules. Civilians must be protected," Amnesty International said, in a statement on May 29 while reacting to Mrs Haley's act.
Israel's three-week-old offensive in Gaza's Rafah has prompted an outcry from global leaders after an airstrike on May 26 killed at least 45 people
The World Court last week ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault
Mr Kenneth Roth, a former Human Rights Watch executive director, said of Mrs Haley in a post on X on May 28: "Why not just sign I favour Israeli war crimes."
Later on May 29, Mrs Haley posted on X: "Israel must do whatever is necessary to protect her people from evil," adding that Israel was fighting "enemies" of the United States.
Reuters could not reach Mrs Haley for comment immediately on May 29.
Mrs Haley has been a longstanding supporter of Israel, whose war in Gaza has come under mounting international criticism, divided US lawmakers over the Biden administration's support and prompted protests at campuses across the US.
The local Palestinian health ministry puts the death toll from the war at over 36,000. There is also widespread hunger in the narrow coastal enclave and nearly its entire 2.3 million population has been displaced.
Israel says it is acting in self-defence after the militant Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel
