Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib is drawing flak after blaming Israel for the recent bombing of a Gaza Strip hospital.
A number of Democrats directed the blame toward the Israeli military after a rocket attack at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza killed 500 people. Tlaib and fellow Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar have been among the country’s strongest critics.
“As an American, not just as a member of the United States Congress, I am ashamed. I am ashamed that they’re saying, ‘not yet. Maybe next week.’ … How many more have to die?” Tlaib said.
Both lawmakers have been receiving criticism for what others are calling their past comments as Islamophobic. Tlaib, however, addressed the backlash.
“The American Jewish community in my district, and all of you here. I just know how much courage it’s taken to speak up. Many of you have been targeted. You’re being gas lit. Some people are losing their jobs. Folks are getting events canceled. Literally, their First Amendment right wiped away for standing up and saying that children deserve to live. It is literally inhumane for my colleagues to allow that to continue and say nothing,” she said.
The Michigan Democrat also slammed President Joe Biden for his continued support for Israel since the Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border, killing at least 700 people.
“To my president, to our president … I want him to know, as a Palestinian American and somebody in Muslim faith, I’m not going to forget this. And I think a lot of people are not going to forget this,” Tlaib said.
“President Biden, not all Americans are with you on this one and you need to understand that. We are literally watching people commit genocide and killing the vast majority just like this, and we still stand by and say nothing. We will remember this,” she continued.
The White House and the Israeli government have determined that the hospital explosion was caused by a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket from Palestine.
Hamas, however, said that the airstrike was ordered by Israel. But both the White House and the Israeli government have determined that the explosion was caused by a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket from Palestine.
