Several Democratic members of Congress have come under repeated scrutiny for continuing to reiterate their support for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, along with comments considered sympathetic to the terrorist group.
The war was prompted by the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on civilians in Israel and has continued for almost two months. There has been a temporary ceasefire between the two to allow for the transfer of some Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
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Since the onset of the conflict, pro-Palestinian protests have erupted in the United States, many of which have expressed support for Hamas’s actions against Israel. Between failing to condemn certain demonstrations and antisemitic violence in the U.S. and excusing the sexual violence perpetrated against Israelis on Oct. 7, some Democratic lawmakers appear to be contradicting their purported liberal beliefs.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
In a recent exchange with CNN’s Dana Bash, Jayapal came under fire for suggesting women were not raped and sexually assaulted during Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7.
When Bash asked why progressive activists were uncharacteristically quiet over the use of sexual violence as a war tactic by Hamas, the congresswoman pushed back. “I mean, I don’t know that that’s true,” she said. “I think what — we always talk about the impact of war on women, in particular. In fact, I remember, 20 years ago, I did a petition around the war in Iraq.”
Bash recentered the discussion, asking Jayapal if she had specifically condemned the actions perpetrated against women. “Absolutely, the rape, the — of course,” the congresswoman said.
But, Jayapal added, Israel is held to a “higher standard” due to its status as a democracy.
“Frankly, morally, I think we cannot say that one war crime deserves another. That is not what international humanitarian law says,” according to her.
Her less-than-enthusiastic condemnation of such sexual violence quickly ushered in widespread criticism, though Jayapal has not clarified her statements.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
Last month, Tlaib, who is the only Congress member of Palestinian descent, was censured by the House for her rhetoric surrounding Oct. 7 and the subsequent war. Her colleagues voted 234-188 to usher in the punishment.
In her statement addressing the initial terrorist attack by Hamas, Tlaib called Israel an apartheid state and urged the U.S. to stop funding its ally. Later, following an explosion near a hospital in Gaza, Tlaib spread claims that Israel was responsible for the attack. However, U.S. intelligence quickly revealed the explosion was not a result of an Israeli missile. Instead, the attack was likely caused by a Hamas misfire.
But Tlaib never corrected her claims of Israel’s responsibility, leading to the censure.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
In late October, Omar voted against a House resolution to stand “with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.” The legislation did not sufficiently “acknowledge and mourn the lives of Palestinians taken by the Israeli military,” according to her.
She reiterated her support for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which many have dismissed as a nonstarter or a win for Hamas, as ceasefires are not considered warranted when an entity conducts such an attack on civilians as Oct. 7.
“We must use diplomacy to secure the release of hostages, end the violence by negotiating a ceasefire, restore water, food, and fuel to Gaza, and work toward lasting peace,” Omar said in a statement regarding her vote.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO)
In October, Bush spearheaded the “Ceasefire Now Resolution,” calling for an end to attacks from both sides despite the unprompted actions of Hamas.
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She even accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, not saying the same about Hamas’s attack on Jewish civilians in Israel. According to Bush, people are being “slaughtered” in Gaza, and it is being funded by the U.S.
In response to backlash to her characterization of the responsive attacks from Israel as “ethnic cleansing,” Bush claimed, “My beliefs are rooted in my experiences as an activist in the movement to save black lives.” She added that her constituents want her to defend those who are oppressed and marginalized.
