Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) accused Israel of committing “war crimes” in its retaliation against Hamas terrorists for their heinous October 7 attack.
The left-wing Democrat from New York City denounced Hamas and accused the terrorist group of carrying out its own war crimes against the Jewish state, but also argued that there is an “asymmetry” between the two warring sides.
“Hamas has absolutely participated in horrific attacks. Every day more details are published about what happened on October 7 that shock the human conscience,” AOC said Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Mehdi Hasan Show.”
“However, we also know that war crimes do not constitute or are an appropriate response to other war crimes,” he said.
Ocasio-Cortez, 34, said Israel’s response has been “collective punishment,” preventing enough food and water from reaching innocent Palestinians during its crackdown on Hamas while launching “an indiscriminate bombing campaign.” including banned chemicals, in Gaza despite the sophistication and precision of modern military weapons.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says that while Hamas terrorists are guilty of war crimes, so is Israel.MSNBC
.@AOC He says it is important to recognize “the asymmetry of what is happening, as well as the collective punishment of the… Palestinian people right now.”
“War crimes do not constitute and are not an appropriate response to other war crimes.” pic.twitter.com/yW5JDJMNWT
– The Mehdi Hasan Show (@MehdiHasanShow) October 23, 2023
“[We are seeing] the launching and deployment of white phosphorus, which is also a war crime,” AOC said.
“It is unacceptable to think that 1,700 Palestinian children alone, their deaths will in any way offset or justify the violence of what we saw on October 7,” he added.
The congresswoman pointed to reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that accused Israeli forces of unleashing the compound, citing videos and other evidence.
White phosphorus is a compound that can cause severe burns that can reach the bone and its use is generally restricted by various international treaties. Israel has denied using the incendiary compound.
An injured Palestinian woman runs during Israeli airstrikes on her neighborhood in Gaza City on October 23.AP
The progressive darling stressed that “it is not at all a defense of Hamas” that she also opposes Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
He also defended his call for a ceasefire, which host Mehdi Hasan said would leave Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip and could therefore carry out more deadly attacks against Israel in the future.
“I think, in the immediate sense, we have to pause what is happening,” the congresswoman responded.
“What we are seeing in Gaza is an indiscriminate bombing campaign. It occurs to me, and I think a question we all need to ask ourselves, is: what price of innocent lives is acceptable in terms of attacking Hamas?
A Palestinian boy injured in an Israeli bombing is taken to Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir Al-Balah on October 23.AP
About 20 trucks of humanitarian aid arrived in Gaza over the weekend, carrying water, food and medical supplies.
Israel is expected to soon mount a ground invasion against the poverty-stricken Palestinian territory.
Hamas captured several hundred hostages during its deadly surprise attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and 31 Americans, according to authorities.
Palestinians injured in the Israeli bombing await treatment at Shifa hospital on October 23.AP
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry has estimated that more than 4,300 Palestinians have also died since the war broke out.
Ocasio-Cortez’s position on the war in Israel puts her at odds with many top Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“I have great respect for Schumer and we enjoy a very strong working relationship,” AOC said. “This is, however, an area of disagreement. “It is not at all a defense of Hamas to criticize this current approach, this indiscriminate and violent approach.”
Ocasio-Cortez has long criticized Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. AFP via Getty Images
A member of the so-called “Squad,” Ocasio-Cortez and her progressive peers, such as Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), have drawn criticism for their calls for a ceasefire. and his criticism of Israel.
Ocasio-Cortez maintained that Palestinian voices have largely diminished in the halls of Congress.
“I have long found the ignoring and marginalizing of Palestinians in the U.S. House of Representatives, the humanity of the Palestinian populations in the five years I have been in Congress, quite shocking. “This is not something new for many of us,” argued Ocasio-Cortez.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn