George W Bush says US must support Israel ‘no ands, ifs or buts’

Former president praises Biden for standing with Israel and says Netanyahu has ‘got to do what he’s got to do’ after Hamas attacks

The US must support Israel “no ands, ifs or buts”, the former US president George W Bush said as he advocated for “tough” action in response to violence by Hamas which many observers have likened to the 9/11 attacks on US soil, after which Bush led his country and much of the Middle East into 20 years of war that cost millions of lives.

In an interview with the historian Mark Updegrove, reported by Axios, the 43rd president, now 77, was asked for his thoughts on the attacks that have killed more than 1,100, prompting Israeli air strikes that have killed more than 1,500 in Gaza amid expectations of a ground invasion, with more than 100 Israeli hostages taken.