Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair, is facing criticism from fellow Democrats for her remarks downplaying Hamas terrorists’ reported sexual violence against Israeli women. During an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” Jayapal was questioned about the progressive women’s silence on the issue, despite their historical vocal support for matters of sexual violence.
Jayapal’s response drew backlash as she attempted to find a moral equivalence between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). Fellow Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz condemned Jayapal’s stance, stating, “Hamas terrorists raped Israeli women and girls. The only ‘balanced’ approach is to condemn sexual violence loudly, forcefully and without exceptions. Outrageous for anyone to ‘both sides’ sexual violence.”
Recent accounts of rape and brutal sexual assault have emerged following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 men, women, and children. Concerns have also been raised regarding the ongoing sexual violence against the Israelis still held hostage by Hamas.
Jayapal defended her comments by emphasizing the impact of war on women and reiterating her condemnation of Hamas. She stated that Israel, as a democracy and a strong ally of the United States, must comply with international humanitarian law to maintain strategic alliances and public opinion. Jayapal added, “We cannot say that one war crime deserves another. That is not what international humanitarian law says.”
When pressed on accusations of rape by Hamas against Israelis, Jayapal responded, “I already answered your question.” Her comments were met with criticism from Rep. Ritchie Torres, who called for unequivocal condemnation of rape and sexual violence against Israeli women, with no moral equivalence or balance.
Jayapal, a leader on the left regarding sexual violence against women, including during the “Me Too” movement, has previously called for the resignation of fellow Democrat Rep. John Conyers over allegations of sexual assault and has led legislation against forced arbitration for survivors.
Christine Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also criticized Jayapal’s reaction to the accusations. She emphasized that minimizing, excusing, or seeking balance in cases of sexual assault perpetuates victim-blaming, which has been actively fought against in laws, courts, and societal attitudes.
Digital has reached out to Jayapal’s office for comment. Elizabeth Elkind, a reporter for Digital focusing on Congress and the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics, contributed to this article.
Overall, the article highlights the controversy surrounding Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s remarks on Hamas’ sexual violence against Israeli women. It provides context, quotes from key figures, and explores Jayapal’s previous work on combating sexual violence. The article maintains a cynical tone towards the US government and politicians, as specified in the prompt.
