DES MOINES, Iowa — Republican presidential candidates made their voices heard Wednesday night in Miami at the third RNC debate covering a variety of topics, but foreign policy dominated the night.
Candidates are fighting to be the second Republican option behind former President Donald Trump, who currently remains the party's frontrunner.
Trump hasn't attended any of the three RNC debates in 2023, citing his lead in polls as a reason for skipping.
Instead, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott took the stage for a debate co-sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition.
Candidates made it clear Wednesday night that it was a debate focused on the Israel-Hamas conflict. All five candidates reminded Americans of their country's pledge of support for Israel—one of the U.S.'s longtime allies—and their response to Hamas.
"It is absolutely your obligation to protect the territorial integrity of Israel, secondly to make sure you protect the security and safety of your people," Christie said.
Tim Scott added speaking directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Not only do you have the responsibility and the right to wipe Hamas off of the map; we will support you, we will be there with you, we will stand shoulder to shoulder."
Ramaswamy also spoke directly to Netanyahu, after NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt asked the candidates a question about what they would tell the prime minister.
"I would tell [Netanyahu] to smoke those terrorists on his southern border, and then I'll tell him as president of the United States, I'll be smokin' the terrorists on our southern border," he said.
DeSantis took time to bash President Joe Biden, saying he's not providing enough help to bring Americans home who are trapped in the Middle East.
"We had Floridians over there after the attack," he said. "[Biden] left them stranded. They couldn't get flights out. So I scrambled resources in Florida, I sent planes over to Israel and I brought back over 700 people."
In recent years, Republicans have become hard supporters for Israel, an ally ship shined through the candidates during Tuesday's debate.
"It is not that Israel needs America, America needs Israel," Haley admitted. "[Israel] are the tip of the spear when it comes to this Islamic terrorism, and we need to make sure that we have their backs in this process."
The ongoing situation in the Middle East wasn't the only topic of conversation. Al candidates mentioned their opposition to Iran and the Chinese government, and the U.S.'s reliance of Chinese goods.
In particular, Haley highlighted her knowledge on foreign policy in comparison to other candidates, even attacking Ramaswamy by saying, "Putin and President Xi are salivating at the thought that someone like [Ramaswamy] could become president."