White House calls 'Squad' Israel comments 'repugnant'

July 2024 · 5 minute read

Explore More

The White House has condemned comments by some congressional “Squad” members about the devastating terrorist attacks on Israel as “wrong,” “repugnant” and “disgraceful.”

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked Tuesday for President Biden’s response to the progressive lawmakers who focused on calling for an immediate cease-fire and for the US to stop funding Israel.

“I’ve seen some of those statements this weekend, and we’re going to continue to be very clear. We believe they’re wrong, we believe they’re repugnant, and we believe they’re disgraceful,” Jean-Pierre said, without naming names.

“Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped hundreds, hundreds of Israelis. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides,” she added, according to Fox News.

The progressive, pro-Palestinian reps who are part of the “Squad” focused on calling for all violence to stop — and for Biden to cease providing funding to the Jewish state.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called comments by some congressional “Squad” Democrats on the terror attacks in Israel “repugnant” and “disgraceful.” AP Photo/Susan Walsh
A swastika was displayed at a pro-Palestinian rally held by the Democratic Socialists of America in Manhattan on October 8, 2023. Stuart Meissner
Hamas terrorists abducted Israeli civilians from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. AP Photo/Hatem Ali

The Democratic Socialists of America also promoted a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan Sunday even as Israel was counting its more than 1,2000 dead, including horribly mutilated kids.

On Wednesday, Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) renounced his membership in the party in disgust at the rally and the delayed response to the anger it sparked.

Follow along with The Post’s live blog for the latest on Hamas’ attack on Israel

“After the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel, which included the indiscriminate murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent men, women, and children, I can no longer associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in all its forms,” Thanedar, 68, said in a statement.

“Sunday’s hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continue my affiliation. I stand with Israel and its right to defend itself. There is no place for moral equivocation in the face of unadulterated evil as we have seen from Hamas.”

Israel-Hamas war: How we got here

2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip more than three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.

2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.

2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.

2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.

2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years, in an early-morning ambush Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and sending dozens of militants into Israeli towns.

Terrorists killed more than 1,200 Israelis, wounded more than 4,200, and took at least 200 hostage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to announce, “We are at war,” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”

The Gaza Health Ministry — which is controlled by Hamas — reported at least 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,500 injured since the war began.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Sunday called the declaration of war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “devastating” blow for anyone “seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights.”

“An immediate cease-fire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives,” the New York Democrat said, while also condemning “Hamas’ attack in the strongest possible terms.

Smoking rises from buildings in Gaza City after airstrikes by Israel on October 12, 2023. AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

“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,” she said.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) criticized US foreign policy in her statement over the attacks, insisting that in order to achieve peace in the region, the US needs to end its “support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.”

Follow along with The Post’s coverage of Israel’s war with Hamas

Bush, along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), also called for the fighting to stop, while Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) urged that the violence and “blockade of Gaza” end.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) also drew criticism for her response to the war for calling on the US to cease providing assistance to Israel in a statement.

Biden said in televised remarks on the conflict Tuesday that his administration would advise on hostage recovery. “I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world,” he said.

Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted rockets launched by Hamas from Gaza over Ashkelon on October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The horrific weekend terror attack killed over 1,200 people, including 14 Americans, and another 1,100 in Gaza.

Thousands of others remain seriously wounded from the surprise blow, and as of Thursday, Hamas had taken around 150 people captive — including women and kids — while threatening to post footage of them being executed.

ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3R7kGlmampfrLWqwMRmn6ito5p6pK3Lpapmq6GqrqV5yKypmp2cYrCwucyepa2rXaeyscHGp5inrF8%3D