GAZA, — Nikki Haley has signed an Israeli artillery shell with the words “finish them” while touring the country’s northern border with Lebanon.
Haley, a former contender for the Republican presidential nomination, is visiting the Mideast this week and met Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and families of Israelis taken hostage into Gaza. Haley also toured areas struck by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
The signed shell was shown in a photo posted on X, formerly Twitter, by Danny Danon, Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations and a member of the Israeli Parliament.
Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador during the Trump administration, visited an Israeli military post Tuesday with Israel’s former ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon. His office shared the photos of the signed artillery shell.
“Finish them! America (heart) Israel. Always Nikki Haley,” read the message she left on the munition.
Haley's visit comes as Israel faces heightened criticism for not doing enough to protect civilians in Gaza amid its war against Hamas, and days after Israeli airstrikes triggered a fire in a camp for displaced Palestinians that appeared to be one of the war’s deadliest attacks.
Israel has been battling Hezbollah militants in Lebanon along its northern border throughout he war in Gaza.
The visit underscores Haley's strong support of Israel, even in the face of international criticism.
During her time at the U.N., Haley accused the organization of "bullying" Israel and led the U.S. to withdraw funding from an organization that provides food to Palestinian refugees.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 people, according to a tally from the Gaza Health Ministry. More than half of those killed have been women and children.