Lawmaker Calls for Nuking Gaza Like Japan

Florida Representative Randy Fine ignited controversy Thursday by suggesting the use of nuclear weapons against Gaza, drawing a parallel to the atomic bombings of Japan during World War II. The Republican lawmaker made the remarks during a Fox News interview following a shooting incident Wednesday night at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington D.C., which injured two Israeli staffers.

Fine asserted that “Palestinianism is built on violence,” and claimed a consistent incitement to violence against Jews. He framed the shooting as evidence supporting a demand for “complete and total surrender” from those he identified as supporting “Muslim terror.”

“In World War II, we did not negotiate a surrender with the Nazis. We did not negotiate a surrender with the Japanese,” Fine stated. “We nuked the Japanese twice in order to get unconditional surrender; that needs to be the same here.”

The comments have drawn widespread condemnation, with critics labeling them as inflammatory, dangerous, and deeply insensitive. Equating the complex geopolitical situation in Gaza with World War II and advocating for the use of nuclear weapons is a drastic escalation of rhetoric and disregards the immense human cost and potential consequences of such action. While the shooting at the Capitol Jewish Museum is a serious and tragic event, responding with calls for nuclear warfare is not a proportionate or constructive solution. Such statements contribute to a climate of hatred and violence, and undermine efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The suggestion ignores the vast differences between the historical context of World War II and the current situation, and fails to acknowledge the civilian population within Gaza.