Former US presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is under fire for writing “Finish Them” on an Israeli shell during a visit to sites near the northern border with Lebanon. The photograph, showing Haley kneeling and writing with a purple marker, was posted on X by Danny Danon, an Israeli parliament member and former ambassador to the United Nations, who accompanied her on the visit.
“‘Finish Them’. This is what my friend the former ambassador Nikki Haley wrote,” Danon’s post read along with the controversial image.
The timing of the photo has sparked outrage on social media, particularly given that civilians are the majority casualties in Israeli attacks in Gaza. Criticism poured in from global users on the platform, condemning Haley’s message as “immoral” and indicative of “unconditional support” for Israel.
“I wonder if autographing an artillery round knowing it will be used to commit an act of genocide constitutes a war crime? Nikki Haley is truly an ignorant, soulless human being,” a comment on the post read.
“Shame on her existence she is evil!” wrote one X user. Another commented, “These missiles will ultimately be used to kill innocent civilians and children. This is terrorism.”
‘No change in Israel policy,’ White House maintains
Despite the uproar, the White House has stated that President Joe Biden has no plans to change his Israel policy, emphasizing that he is not ignoring the suffering of Palestinian civilians even after a deadly weekend strike on Rafah.
Haley, who ended her White House bid in March after a series of defeats in Republican primary contests to Donald Trump, recently re-entered the political arena and expressed her intention to vote for him. Although Trump has ruled her out as a vice-presidential candidate, she remains a potential presidential contender for 2028.
The Gaza conflict escalated after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,189 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. Additionally, militants took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 that the Israeli army reports as dead. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 36,096 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.
(With inputs from agencies)