By MICHELLE L. PRICE and MEG KINNARD Associated Press
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WASHINGTON — Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina on Monday praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for showing what he called “restraint” after Hamas attacked Israel over a week ago.

The Republican presidential candidate said Netanyahu “waited” and showed “patience” and “humanity” in response to the Oct. 7 attack.

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Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza the day of the attack and Netanyahu declared war with Hamas, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.” The war has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead.

“One of the first things that Israel’s done is they waited,” Scott said about Israel as he spoke at an event focused on U.S. foreign policy and national security at Georgetown University in Washington.

“Now how Prime Minister Netanyahu had the kind of restraint to refrain from immediate action, it just talks about the morality and the humanity that we see coming from Netanyahu into Gaza,” the senator said.

Hamas militants’ surprise attacks on Israel have left 1,400 dead and retaliatory strikes have killed at least 2,778 Palestinians.

Scott also underscored the importance of America’s allyship with Israel and said “America should stand shoulder-to-shoulder, back-to-back, with no daylight with Israel.”

He said the U.S. should move more firepower into the region to “be responsive” and said that U.S. special forces should be prepared to help rescue American hostages in Gaza.

Scott also criticized front-runner Republican candidate Donald Trump for his criticism of Netanyahu days after the attack. He said the former president’s comments were “terrible,” “not helpful” and “heading in the wrong direction.”

“We should be loyal to our allies while being lethal to our adversaries. Anything less than that jeopardizes life,” he said.