Some Democrats who have a history of speaking out about Hamas’ war with Israel are now silent when it comes to the Palestinian-led anti-Hamas protests in the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of Gazans reportedly took to the streets Tuesday, calling for an end to Hamas rule of the Strip in the largest demonstration of its kind since the war began. The protest was a rare occurrence of Palestinian opposition to Hamas, where the crowd chanted “Hamas out” before armed militants forcibly disbanded the crowd, according to multiple news reports.
Five Democrats who have a history of condemning Israel on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza have not posted on social media or released statements about the protests against Hamas. Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Summer Lee and Greg Casar did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Congressional “squad” members AOC, Omar, Tlaib and Lee were critical of Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 attacks and called for a ceasefire. Casar also joined his colleagues in calling for a ceasefire in 2023.
“Netanyahu wants to continue committing war crimes with the full backing of the United States,” Omar said in a speech calling for an arms embargo posted to X on Wednesday. “How can we allow ethnic cleansing to continue? … History will remember those that stood their ground and called for an end to the genocide and pushed for a permanent ceasefire and a release of the remaining hostages,” she continued.
“They want us to be silent while the Israeli government continues its genocide, wiping out entire generations of Palestinian families, dropping American bombs on hospitals and dismembering children over and over again,” Tlaib said in a “protect the first amendment” rally posted to X on Tuesday.
Another DCNF reporter approached Lee with the question, “do you support the anti-Hamas protests in Gaza?” on Wednesday. Lee did not answer the question and instead got into her car and was driven away.
“I strongly condemn Hamas’ horrifying attack on children and innocent civilians,” Lee wrote in a press release on Oct. 7, 2023. “In retaliation, PM Netanyahu has already targeted densely populated civilian areas in Gaza,” she continued.
One Palestinian protestor who chose to remain anonymous told the DCNF that he expects these demonstrations to grow and continue, which is congruent with other reports.
“Hamas, we don’t want you here,” the protestor, 25, told a select group of journalists with the help of a translator in a meeting facilitated by the Centers for Peace Communications. “We want you out of Gaza, and we hate you, and you don’t represent us.”
He described the demonstrations as “unprecedented and sudden,” and noted that he did not believe them to be coordinated by the Palestinian authorities. Due to “Hamas propaganda machines,” he believes that the Palestinian people did not see that the militant group was the greatest obstacle to peace in the region until recent international discussions exposed Hamas’ “priority to survive as a political and military group.”
“They understand more than ever what they really want, which is Hamas out,” he said of the people of Gaza. “Hamas should get out of Gaza, not only to end the current war and the current clashes, but also to end 18 years of oppression by Hamas against the Gazans,” he continued.
“The two-state solution is expired and not valid anymore,” he told the DCNF. He pointed instead to solutions brought forth by Mohammed Dahlan, an adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, and that the region should strive for “one democratic state” through working with “the international community.”
President Donald Trump announced in February that the U.S. planned to “take over” the Gaza Strip in order to end the war during a press conference, which was met with mass criticism by Democratic officials.
Myles Morell contributed to this report.
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