<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Five Republican presidential candidates in the United States have clashed in their latest debate over a host of issues, including the war in Gaza, immigration and their difficult quest to win the nomination against former President Donald Trump.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Tim Scott sparred on the stage of the third debate of the campaign in Miami, Florida on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The stage was downsized from the last debate in September with former Vice President Mike Pence suspending his campaign and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum failing to qualify.</div><div><br></div><div>Trump, who remains the distant frontrunner despite his mounting legal woes, once again decided to skip proceedings.</div><div><br></div><div>The war in Gaza and its international and domestic implications dominated the first part of the debate, but the candidates’ support for Israel kept resurfacing even when discussing other topics.</div><div><br></div><div>Haley and Ramaswamy – who remain longshot candidates – deepened their rivalry, exchanging jabs throughout the evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Scott, who cut a quiet figure in the previous debate, delivered a more assertive performance, claiming more speaking time.</div><div><br></div><div>DeSantis, long seen as the most serious threat to Trump’s grip on the party’s nomination, promoted his conservative record in Florida while criticising President Joe Biden’s policies. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>