Despite the horrors of the Hamas attack on Israel that began over the weekend and the fighting resulting from which continues through now and will likely last a good bit longer, progressive “Squad” member Rashida Tlaib is proudly and publicly sticking by Palestine.
Most recently, she did so by flying a Palestinian flag outside of her Congressional office, then took a picture with the flag and posted it to X (formerly Twitter), alongside a caption meant to show her support for Palestine and imply her enmity toward Israel.
Captioning the post, Rep. Tlaib wrote, “Palestinians may be banned from flying their flag under an apartheid government, but we can still proudly do it at my office. I’m proud to be a Palestinian American and I want the Palestinian people to know that not all Americans support apartheid. No one can erase our existence.”
The flag picture follows Tlaib releasing a statement shortly after the attack in which she pointedly did not condemn Hamas, writing, “I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity.”
She then added, “The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.”
“The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other,” she wrote.
She called Israel an apartheid state in that statement as well, writing, “As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.”
Meanwhile, fellow “Squad” member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a close ally of the Democratic Socialists of America, remained silent on a rally hosted in support of Palestine in AOC’s home city, NYC. Rep. AOC did, however, condemn Hamas, unlike Tlaib.
In her statement, AOC said, “Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights in Israel and Palestine. I condemn Hamas’ attack in the strongest possible terms. No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region. An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives.”
The DSA rally about which AOC did not comment, much less condemn, was to show “solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid.” Many others in New York City were horrified by the protest, which they saw as being in support of a terror group and war crimes against civilians. Hudson Valley Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan wrote on X, for example, “This is an absolute disgrace. Let’s be clear what happened yesterday: Hamas terrorists massacred hundreds of Israeli civilians, including women and children. They took dozens more hostage, including Holocaust survivors and American citizens. Jewish families around the world are still awaiting answers, wondering if their loved ones are alive. To know all this, and choose to hold a protest in New York City, home to the largest Jewish population in the United States, is blatant antisemitism. These actions are an insult to the memories of the innocent men, women, and children brutally murdered. Our ONLY focus should be mourning those we lost and supporting Israel’s ongoing defense against terrorism.”
