Palestinians and Israelis are battling a humanitarian crisis: When President Biden is angry with Hamas and Israel, or Should the United Nations intervene?
While Democrats in Congress are torn between their support of Israel and their concern about civilians in Gaza, the left wing of the party is increasing their calls for a cease-fire.
Several Democrats in the House and Senate have urged the Biden administration for humanitarian pauses to allow aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. They have argued that the pauses are necessary to keep an already dire humanitarian crisis from worsening, and to negotiate the release of more than 200 hostages, including Americans, being held in Gaza since Hamas waged a bloody attack on civilians and soldiers in southern Israel on Oct. 7.
You have to take a break in the bombing. You need to look after the immediate disaster. On Sunday, the senator spoke about the need for Israel to change its strategy in an interview with CNN. It is not possible to have a cease-fire with a group like Hamas that is so focused on chaos anddestruction of the state of Israel.
The backlash from some progressive activists highlighted the pressures Democrats are dealing with on the issue. Their dilemma, which mirrors the one President Biden has been facing as he confronts growing hostility on the left to his backing of Israel, could carry political consequences for the party overall. Democrats will be heavily reliant on strong support and turnout among their liberal core supporters in their push to hold the White House and the Senate, and win control of the House, in the 2024 elections.
Richard J. Durbin of Illinois last week became the first Democratic senator to call for a cease-fire, which he said he would support under certain conditions, including Hamas first agreeing to release hostages. His decision reflected a shift underway on Capitol Hill that has coincided with changes in Mr. Biden’s public messaging on Israel.
Mr. Biden has declared that the United States supports Israel. But in the last several days, he and top administration officials have emphasized their efforts to persuade Israeli officials of the need for humanitarian pauses to allow the United Nations to deliver aid to civilians.
The change in tone comes as progressive polls indicate that a majority of Democratic voters favor a cease-fire, as well as evidence that younger people and people of color are critical of the Biden administration’s stance on the war.
Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has made several controversial comments about the war. She has defended her comments and says she is simply availing herself of freedom of speech.
Israel vs. Palestine: Reply to Tlaib, Greene, and Greene in the Greene-Greene Resolution
In times of war or peace, international law states that genocide can be committed with the intent to destroy a group. Israeli officials have said that they are not targeting the Palestinians.
The video had pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanting from the river to the sea, a cry that many see as calling for the eradication of Israel.
Ms Slotkin is a centrist who is Jewish and wrote that elected leaders should not amplify language that makes it harder for communities to find common ground. “If I knew that a phrase I’d used had hurt any of my constituents, I would apologize & retract it, no matter its origin. I would ask the same thing from you.
This phrase is used to mean ending Israel and Jews. The only way to save civilian lives and secure the peace, justice and dignity you seek is by getting Hamas and Gaza to release their hostages.
Ms. Tlaib said the slogan was a call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence not death, destruction, or hate. She accused her coworkers of focusing on pillorying her at the expense of saving lives.
The House rejected an earlier censure measure filed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., because 23 of her Republican colleagues voted against it. Many said they disagreed with Greene’s language accusing Tlaib of leading an insurrection, words which were not included in McCormick’s resolution.
Tlaib is accused of calling for the destruction of Israel and promoting false narratives about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.