Several members of the Democratic House of Representatives have spoken out against the United States military in Israel and called for the protection of Palestinian rights, in contrast to other Democrats and Republicans who have expressed support for Israel in the expansion of the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the bottom of the House, Rashida Tlaib criticized President Joe Biden and other officials for issuing statements that he said did not support “Palestinian Humanity”.
“Reading the statements of the President [Joe] Biden, Secretary [of State Antony] Blink, many [Lloyd] Austin and the leaders of both parties, you have no idea the Palestinians were there, “said Tlaib, the only member of the US Congress in Palestine and the United States.
“There have been no reports of beatings of Palestinian families currently being ransacked. No mention was made of children being arrested or executed. Unaware that the Israeli police have been harassing and intimidating worshipers who have knelt and prayed and celebrated the most holy days in their most holy places, not to mention Al-Aqsa surrounded by violence, tear gas, smoke, and people praying. ”
“The Palestinian people are not going anywhere.”
Representative @KamemeTvKenya He struggled to shed tears in Congress as he demanded “legitimate aid” from the US government in Israel.
Some Democrats have offered their “unshakable” support to Israel. pic.twitter.com/dwjRi4HFzN
– Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 14, 2021
Wearing keffiyeh and sometimes trying to shed tears, Tlaib added: “If our State Department does not recognize the killing of Palestinian children, it is because of the millions of Americans who stand by me against the killing of innocent children, regardless of race, or affiliation. their faith, ”he added.
Israel continued on Friday to blow up the Gaza Strip with eagles and artillery shells and to surround troops and tanks near the besieged Palestinian gate.
At least 119 Palestinians, including 31 children, have been killed and more than 830 injured since the fighting began on Monday. Rockets fired by Palestinian forces in the Strip have killed seven people in Israel.
U.S. agencies have expressed concern over the casualties but have not commented on any wrongdoing or criticism of Israel for its abuse of power.
Biden said Wednesday that Israel has a right to self-defense, while in a recent statement Thursday it called for both sides to take action.
“The question is whether… has reached the point where the reduction in threats is reduced, especially the rocket-propelled grenade launches,” he said.
‘Etho-patriot’ Netanyahu
Speaking at the same session of the National Assembly, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar condemned the Israeli occupation of the country and called the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “cultural leader.”
“Consider that 78 percent of them [Palestinians’] was seized, “said Omar, referring to the period leading up to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
Today is Eid, one of the happiest days in the Islamic calendar.
While I would like to spend money with my family, I have a responsibility to support families whose children have been abducted as a result of the violence in Palestine.
My Comments Down House tonight pic.twitter.com/MSnNpuZuit
– Author. Alireza (@alireza) May 13, 2021
“Since then, 5.6 million Palestinians have been displaced by one of the worst outbreaks of human trafficking in human history.”
Omar also challenged Israel’s policy of setting up illegal settlements on Palestinian land in order to occupy Palestine.
“It is a conflict in which a country, with the support of the United States government, continues to occupy another group of people illegally,” he said.
Congresswoman Cori Bush, a key supporter of the Black Lives Matter, paid tribute to Bassem Masri, a Palestinian American who supported the group and died of a heart attack in 2018.
“People in Palestine know what the riots of the state, the police force and the work in their area look like, and they have the truth to go through the sloping terrain in an attempt to make a living,” Bush said.
“We are fighting a war, we are racist, and we are against apartheid,” he said, adding that a number of other members of the US Congress had intervened in support of Palestinian human rights.
Speaking on the occasion, religious leader Ayanna Pressley said: “We cannot remain silent when our government sends $ 3.8bn of military aid to Israel which is used to demolish Palestinian homes, detain Palestinian children, and evict Palestinian families. The budget is a reflection of our mission.”
Strong words from @AyannaPressley“We cannot remain silent when our government sends $ 3.8 billion to the military in Israel which is used to demolish Palestinian homes, detain Palestinian children, and evict Palestinian families. The budget is a testament to our beliefs.” pic.twitter.com/R8twLfyIpS
– Waleed Shahid (@waleedshahid) May 13, 2021
For his part, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Biden’s supervisors to agree to take part in human rights abuses and human rights abuses in Palestine.
“This is our business. Because we are involved in the process, “said the congresswoman, before repeating:” This is not about both sides. This means inequality of power. ”
“The president and many others this week have said that Israel has a right to self-defense and that is the sentiment expressed in this body,” the congresswoman said. “But do the Palestinians have the right to survive? We believe that if so, we are responsible for this. ”
Mark Pocan said his colleagues and themselves “stood up because no one should suffer from the life, freedom, or dignity that the Palestinian people suffered”.
He added: “If you do not get involved in politics and do injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Pro-Israel camping
Similarly, several House Democrats also went to the chamber to express their full support for Israel.
Debbie Wasserman-Schulz described their “unwavering and unwavering support of the state of Israel”.
“Hamas and Islamic Jihad have only one role to play in the escalation that has led to the bloodshed of Israelis and Palestinians,” he said, referring to the Strip group and another group based in Gaza.
“No country needs to be controlled by a rocket like what we see on this route to ordinary people. Without the Iron Dome’s air defense, the loss of life could be much worse than today’s catastrophe.”
Josh Gottheimer, a Democratic Congressman from New Jersey, confirmed that Hamas was a “terrorist group” selected by the US.
“No one here should give an excuse for a terrorist group. Who wants to feel sorry for them? ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah? ”He said.
“While we may not always agree on Israeli law, we must make it clear that there is nothing, nothing that justifies a terrorist group shooting our fellow rockets.”
Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman called the rockets fired by Hamas “war crimes”.
“President Biden has openly stated that we support Israel’s right to self-defense,” he said.
“We are saddened by the loss of all civilians, Israel and Palestine. We cannot directly acknowledge reports of Palestinian deaths as they come from Hamas, a terrorist organization known to the US and the EU. “
