U.S. congressional candidate Chris Banweg, R-Ohio, joined the conversation surrounding the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas in the Gaza strip. Banweg discussed the challenges Israeli forces face while confronting underground tunnels that Hamas forces are using. However, the focus shifted when Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., a member of the progressive “Squad,” accused Israel of committing “ethnic cleansing” in its retaliation against Hamas in Gaza.
In a tweet, Rep. Bush claimed that “millions of people with nowhere to go” are “being slaughtered” in Gaza as Israel conducts its retaliatory campaign. She wrote, “We can’t be silent about Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign. Babies, dead. Pregnant women, dead. Elderly, dead. Generations of families, dead.” Rep. Bush added, “Millions of people in Gaza with nowhere to go being slaughtered. The U.S. must stop funding these atrocities against Palestinians.”
These statements come as the Israeli military expands its ground operations within Gaza, targeting rocket and anti-tank missile positions. However, it is important to note that the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims that more than 8,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began on Oct. 7. The data provided by the health ministry is believed to be inflated, and President Biden’s administration has referred to the ministry as little more than a “front for Hamas.”
Rep. Cori Bush’s accusations of “ethnic cleansing” align her with a small but vocal minority of Democrats who oppose Israel in the ongoing conflict. Other critics, such as Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, have also faced extensive and repeated accusations of antisemitism.
It is worth mentioning that Rep. Tlaib was among the first to condemn Israel for the now-discredited claim that it struck a hospital in Gaza with an airstrike, resulting in the deaths of approximately 500 people. U.S. intelligence has since stated that the blast actually originated from a rocket fired by militants in Gaza that fell short. Despite this information, Rep. Tlaib has yet to delete her statement claiming Israel carried out the attack.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to be a highly contentious issue, with strong opinions on both sides. It remains to be seen how the international community will respond and whether there will be any significant shifts in U.S. policy regarding its stance on Israel.
For more updates on national politics and major breaking news events, follow reporter Anders Hagstrom on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
