by Guy Page
At an October 18 press conference, VTDigger reporter Lola Duffort asked Gov. Phil Scott several questions about the Hamas-Israel conflict, including one about Israel’s Gaza evacuation strategy, which she said has been “widely condemned by the international community.”
Each of Duffort’s questions took a critical tone to Israel’s response to the October 7 invasion, killing and kidnappings by Hamas. But Scott, while calling for humanitarian aid, repeatedly sided with Israel.
“Israel’s fight is with Hamas, a terrorist organization,” Scott said. Moments later he said, “Israel is our friend, our ally, and we need to support them.”
VDC’s video captured Duffort’s final question – about Israel’s Gaza evacuation warning strategy, giving civilians 24 hours to leave – as well as Scott’s blunt assessment of Hamas, at the end of the video.