Chris Christie pledges to share shocking experiences witnessed in Israel upon his return to the US

GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie vowed on Sunday to share with the American people the destruction he witnessed in Israel, making him the first Republican candidate to visit the country after the October 7 Hamas attacks. Emphasizing his campaign's focus on US leadership in global affairs, Christie stressed the importance of exposing more individuals, particularly those aspiring to hold the presidency, to the consequences of such violence.

Christie further engaged with the families of Gaza's hostages, emphasizing the utmost importance of ensuring the safe liberation of their cherished individuals above all else, due to the imminent threat to their lives.

Prior to this, he embarked on a visit to a kibbutz, where he witnessed a home pierced with bullet holes and was informed about harrowing accounts of whole families perishing and children enduring hours of hiding during the violent episodes.

He claimed that being able to sense the lingering odor of death in these homes, even after a month, is crucial for the American public to witness and hear firsthand from someone who has witnessed it themselves.

Reflecting on a documentary presentation organized by the Israel Defense Forces, Christie shared with CNNs Omar Jimenez on Sunday that he was particularly disturbed by the apparent "delight" exhibited by Hamas militants during the execution of these attacks.

After launching his 2024 presidential bid, Christie met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Unlike his rivals, who are hesitant to support allies during times of war, Christie has taken a different stance.

When questioned by CNN about Congress' proposed bills to prevent a government shutdown, which do not allocate funds for Israel or Ukraine, Christie emphasized the importance of standing with allies. He warned that if the United States fails to do so, China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, whom he refers to as "the evil foursome," will take advantage of the void we leave behind.

Christie informed CNN that he had a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem to discuss the ongoing war, US engagement, and the hostage situation. Notably, he did not have a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Christie made it clear that he does not align with Netanyahu's remarks opposing the involvement of the current Palestinian Authority government in Gaza after the war concludes.

"There seems to be a lack of individuals willing to volunteer and assume control of Gaza from Hamas," he expressed, asserting his belief that a diplomatic resolution will need to be achieved by all relevant parties once the conflict comes to an end.

Christie further acknowledged the mounting demands for a ceasefire in Gaza, which have ignited political tensions worldwide as the number of Palestinian casualties continues to rise. His message to protestors is, "Come to Israel and witness the situation firsthand," he proclaimed while standing in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where nearly every household suffered from the attack.

Christie concurs with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's observation that a significant number of Palestinian civilians have suffered casualties in the conflict. He emphasizes the necessity of avoiding any loss of civilian life at all costs.

However, Christie adds that it is crucial to ensure that Hamas is unable to exploit civilians as shields, hindering the degradation of their military capabilities.