Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is taking a swipe at President Joe Biden over his statement of support for Israel amid conflict with Hamas, saying he did not provide enough context for what ultimately led to the violence.
Biden said Israel has a right to defend itself “when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.”
“Blanket statements like these [with] little context or acknowledgement [sic] of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians and imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Wednesday.
She added, “By only stepping in to name Hamas’ actions – which are condemnable – and refusing to acknowledge the rights of Palestinians, Biden reinforces the false idea that Palestinians instigated this cycle of violence. This is not neutral language. It takes a side – the side of occupation.”
By only stepping in to name Hamas’ actions – which are condemnable – & refusing to acknowledge the rights of Palestinians, Biden reinforces the false idea that Palestinians instigated this cycle of violence.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 12, 2021
This is not neutral language. It takes a side – the side of occupation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also said in a statement, “I condemn the escalating and indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas against Israel. Israel has the right to defend herself against this assault, which is designed to sow terror and undermine prospects for peace.”
She added, “Hamas’s accelerating violence only risks killing more civilians, including innocent Palestinians.”
Pelosi Statement on Hamas Rocket Attacks: “Israel has the right to defend herself against this assault, which is designed to sow terror and undermine prospects for peace.” pic.twitter.com/4xeVG3qzs7
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) May 12, 2021
On Monday, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) accused Israel of committing “an act of terrorism,” adding, “Palestinians deserve protection. Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians. It’s unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid.”
Israeli air strikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 10, 2021
Palestinians deserve protection.
Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians.
It’s unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid. https://t.co/vWWQfMqBkT
After Hamas and other Islamic terror groups launched rockets into Israel, the country carried out airstrikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to medics, at least 83 people have been killed in Gaza amid the escalating violence since Monday.