Indian Americans back Israel after Hamas' surprise attacks

Noted Indian Americans, including two Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, have rallied behind Israel following unprecedented attacks on it by the Hamas militant group that has left hundreds dead.

- 

Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks in southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple airstrikes targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. About 1,000 people have been confirmed dead in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides.

"Hamas and the backers who support them, the Iranian regime, were chanting 'Death to Israel, death to America.' That's what we have to remember. We are united with Israel because Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and the Iranian backers hate us," Republican presidential candidate Haley told NBC News on Sunday.

"We have to remember that what happened to Israel could happen here in America. And I hope that we all unite and stand with Israel because they really need us right now," she said. In a post on X, Haley told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "finish them (Hamas)".

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It is a 41kmlong and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.