Haley Blasts Hamas for Deaths at Gaza Border

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that Hamas, not Israel, was responsible for the deaths of 40 Palestinians in protests along the Gaza security fence since the end of March.

Haley accused the Gaza terrorist group of ruthlessly exploiting children in the protests it has organized at the border:

“Anyone who truly cares about children in Gaza should insist that Hamas immediately stop using children as cannon fodder in its conflict with Israel,” Haley said.

“It’s difficult to think of a more cowardly act — even for a terrorist — than hiding behind innocent civilians,” she added.

Haley’s speech came in response to a U.N. call for an investigation into Israel’s handling of the rioters, a move the Trump administration has opposed.

Meanwhile, the ambassador was rated the most popular figure in U.S. politics, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll published on Thursday.

Approval for the impassioned defender of Israel spanned party lines, as she garnered approval from 75 percent of Republicans, 55 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Independents.

Haley’s popularity among the self-identified was comparable to that of leading names in the Democratic Party: 56 percent for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 55 percent for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Overall, Schumer polled at 34 percent while Pelosi received a 30 percent approval rating.