“Squad” Democrats, including Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, held a press conference on Capitol Hill calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, once again accusing Israel of committing “genocide” and war crimes, Fox News Digital reports.
Bush, in her opening remarks, denounced what she called genocidal rhetoric and accused Israel of war crimes such as targeting civilians and medical facilities, withholding essential resources, and imposing collective punishment.
She emphasized that the “Squad” refused to be silent on these issues.
Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib accuses her critics of "weaponizing antisemitism in a way to silence voices" pic.twitter.com/fqDBb9RBqZ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 7, 2023
The press conference aimed to highlight the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians in Gaza, with the lawmakers and invited members of Doctors Without Borders accusing Israel of committing atrocities.
The trio has been heavily criticized for their incendiary rhetoric during the conflict, with Tlaib facing censure in the House of Representatives in November for defending a chant calling for the destruction of Israel.
While Israel has defended its right to self-defense, giving warnings to civilians in Gaza before targeting Hamas infrastructure, the “Squad” Democrats have consistently accused Israel of disproportionate actions leading to civilian casualties. The Biden administration, while expressing sorrow over civilian deaths, has affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense, acknowledging the complexity of the conflict.
I once again stand here to ask my colleagues: How many more lives will be enough? How many more innocent civilians and children have to be killed? How many more lives will you accept as "collateral damage"?
Proud to join doctors from my district calling for a ceasefire now. pic.twitter.com/wi3fC82nUp
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) December 7, 2023
Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas entered its third month, with significant developments following the collapse of a ceasefire. The press conference on Capitol Hill aimed to draw attention to the alleged humanitarian crisis and war crimes, reflecting the ongoing divisions and debates surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict within the U.S. political landscape.
