Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) voted “present” on a congressional resolution Wednesday that condemned rape and sexual violence as “weapons of war,” such as the actions committed by the terrorist group Hamas.
The progressive “Squad” member was the sole lawmaker not to vote in favor of the resolution, claiming she was “disturbed” that the resolution did not address rape or sexual violence allegations made against soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces.
“We all have a responsibility to denounce sexual violence in all forms, regardless of who is responsible,” Tlaib said in a post to X after the vote. “War crimes cannot justify more war crimes. This resolution falls well short of also acknowledging the sexual abuse of Palestinians.”
The bipartisan resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), passed in a 418-0 vote on Wednesday evening. The resolution calls for lawmakers to condemn all sexual violence and rape committed as a form of weapons of war, including actions carried about by Hamas.
“Hamas’s actions on Oct. 7 and continuing is almost too difficult to speak about, raping, mutilating and burning to inflict psychological pain and unleashing trauma that continues to plague a grieving Israel,” Frankel said on the House floor. “Shockingly and alarmingly, Hamas’s violence has been met with a shrug from many corners in the world, and many deny it.”
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She continued, “Such weapons have been used throughout history and around the world to terrorize and traumatize victims, but that doesn’t make it OK. It must never be normalized. Our resolution makes it clear sexual violence is a crime against humanity.”
The resolution additionally reaffirms the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting survivors of rape and sexual violence, including those brutalized on and after the Oct. 7 attacks.
