Nikki Haley Says Hamas Trying to ‘Earn Favor’ With US by Releasing Hostages

Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 12, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Friday that Hamas may be attempting to “earn favor” with the United States by releasing two American hostages amid the ongoing Hamas-Israel war.

Hamas terrorist group has released Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, on “humanitarian” grounds following Qatari’s mediation efforts. Their release came two weeks after they were kidnapped during Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Ms. Haley, who is also a former United Nations ambassador, said that while “two prayers have been answered,” there are still over 200 hostages held in Gaza who have yet to be released.

“I have dealt with Qatar in terms of trying to get hostages or actually hostage bodies out of Gaza. This is what they do. They’re trying to earn favor with the United States,” she told Fox News.

Ms. Haley said that Hamas terrorists may be worried about Israel waging a ground war, and Iran—which has been linked to Hamas—is worried that Hamas could lose the war and the extent of such losses.

“And so what they’re doing is they’re going to throw two hostages out there for one, to see if they can weaken us to keep Israel from going into Gaza and two, because they want to see if they can get something out of it,” she added.

Ms. Haley said the Biden administration will need to “be smart” in negotiating the release of the hostages in Gaza while maintaining its strong support for Israel.

“Don’t fall for it. We’ve got 200 more hostages in there. Don’t forget what happened on Oct. 7. They want everybody to forget. We can never forget. Israel needs to stay focused, determined, and America needs to have their back,” she added.

In this photo provided by the Government of Israel, Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers and Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's special coordinator for returning the hostages, as they return to Israel from captivity in the Gaza Strip, on Oct. 20, 2023. Government of Israel via AP Photo

The two American hostages were the first hostages to be released by Hamas. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that they were handed over to Israeli security forces at the Gaza border on Friday.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Daniel Hagari responded to the hostage release in a statement, saying:  “Hamas presents itself to the world as having returned the women they took hostage on humanitarian grounds, while Hamas is, in fact, a murderous terrorist organization that right now is holding infants, children, women and elderly people hostage in the Gaza Strip, and continuing to commit crimes against humanity.”

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said that he was “overjoyed” by their release and thanked the governments of Qatar and Israel for their help.

Mr. Biden said that his administration has been “working around the clock” to secure the release of American hostages, and “we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held.”

“As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world,” he remarked.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which helped facilitate the release by transporting the two hostages from Gaza to Israel, has also called for the immediate release of all hostages.

“The release of two hostages in Gaza today is a sliver of hope,” the ICRC said. “We are ready to visit the remaining hostages and to facilitate any future release following an agreement reached by the parties.”

Hamas terrorists took more than 200 hostages, including U.S. citizens and other foreigners, when it launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. More than 1,400 people have been killed and 4,450 have been injured in Israel as a result of the attack.

In retaliation, Israel has aimed its airstrikes at Hamas targets in Gaza and imposed a complete siege, cutting off the food, water, and fuel that it had voluntarily supplied into Gaza prior to the Oct. 7, until Hamas frees all hostages.

The Hamas-backed Gaza Health Ministry has claimed that over 3,000 civilians have been killed and over 12,500 have been injured in Gaza.