Rashida Tlaib Refuses To Back Down
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Giulia Carbonaro US News ReporterFOLLOW
Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib has refused to back down from her statement blaming Israel for the deadly strike on a Gaza hospital, despite President Joe Biden and several other world leaders saying that the blast was caused by Palestinian militants.
Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent, is one of the loudest voices within the U.S. government criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestinians, having repeatedly accused the country of creating an "apartheid."
Since Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7, Tlaib has expressed her sorrow for the loss of life on both sides of the conflict, but has refrained from directly condemning the Palestinian militant group's actions. In doing so, she has distanced herself from her fellow members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, who condemned Hamas' attack.
Scrutiny over Tlaib's apparent refusal to condemn Hamas and criticism—especially from Republicans—grew after the Michigan congresswoman's statement blaming Israeli authorities for the deadly blast on the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza where hundreds were killed.
Immediately after the blast on October 17, which came right before Biden's visit to Israel, Palestinian authorities said the strike was caused by the Israeli military. The Israeli army said it was caused by an errant rocket launched by the armed group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which denied responsibility.
A number of investigations by news agencies and independent investigative groups have not reached a clear conclusion on who bears responsibility for the strike.
Investigative journalism group Bellingcat said the ground surrounding the possible impact crater showed signs consistent with the explosion of a munition—not usually a weapon used by Israel. The BBC found inconsistencies in the Israeli military's reconstruction of the incident.
While the truth on the attack has yet to be revealed, the U.S. has backed Israel in its claim that the blast was caused by "the other team," as Biden told Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit last week.
But Tlaib has refused to get in line, issuing a statement on Monday calling for an independent investigation into the blast.
"Media outlets and third-party analysts have raised doubts about claims and evidence offered by both Israel and the Gaza Ministry of Health, and I agree with the United Nations that an independent investigation is necessary," Tlaib said.
"I cannot uncritically accept Israel's denials of responsibility as fact, especially in light of confirmation from the World Health Organization that Israel has bombed numerous medical facilities in Gaza and reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society of ongoing threats from the Israeli military to evacuate hospitals," she continued.
"Both the Israeli and United States governments have long, documented histories of misleading the public about wars and war crimes—like last year's Israeli military assassination of Shireen Abu Akleh and the false claims of weapons of mass destruction that led our country into the Iraq War—and cannot clear themselves of responsibility without an independent international investigation," she added.
"This debate should not distract us from the urgent need for a ceasefire to save innocent civilian lives."
Newsweek contacted Tlaib's office for comment by email on Tuesday.
No Trump or fascist nonsense.
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This woman is pathetic and a disgrace to humankind everywhere.
And the sad thing is the dems probably won't primary her and she will most likely be voted in again.
No doubt. Isn't her district majority Arab?
Yep.
Largest Muslim population per capita in the USA. Has been for some time.
And that other Squad idiot Bush standing there next to Tlaib with a smug look on her face.
I don't support her views, but in America she is entitled to them.
Yes, she is entitled to them. But publicly expressing potential hate speech and incitement of ethnic violence is in fact illegal.
Only if you are a white republican, if you are part of a minority group that democrats feel are inferior, then the same rules don't apply.
Which minority groups do the Dems feel are inferior?
All of them (as individuals) that don't vote Dem.
Unfortunately she is also a representative of the Muslim community to the rest of the country. Not a good look.
That's correct.
Remember, if you aren't voting for Biden, you ain't black!
Freedom of Religion.
Yes, we know Tlaib has the freedoms to be stupid, vacuous, devious, and untruthful.
We have the right to criticize her choices and the idiots who voted for her.
Seems you missed the point.
I love when my liberal friends cherry pick things like religion to suit their needs.
Allahu Akbar
To me, it is like the folks who don't believe in God but try to use the Bible to show how evil and impotent He is.
Good to know that in your wisdom you have the insight to render this opinion and pretend that it is fact.
I think I'll change my name to ''Dabasi'' which translates to ''RW thinks that Indians are inferior based on their RW whiteness''
Lol exactly.
Do whatever you want.
I always do. It is entertaining as an inferior Indian to point out the hypocrisy in your white statement especially when you probably know next to nothing about any minority. Kind of like the old fallback, ''' It's because of all the free stuff they get'' or even better ''Dems keep them on the plantation or reservation.''
Baamaapii
Uh huh.
Just because she's a member of a minority does not put her above being criticized or censured Are you defending her on that basis, or are you just being oversensitive about the treatment of minorities generally?
Did I say she did, no I didn't and I'm not defending her.
That is hilarious coming from you the most over-sensitive person on NT. Why don't you start at the beginning, 4.1.1, and follow the comments it's quite obvious what I'm talking about.
Tlaib represents the largest Muslim population per capita in the USA. Dearborn. Blame them for electing her, not her.
I actually have to give her credit, she is probably representing her districts beliefs and what they support, unlike Liz Cheney who put herself above those she swore to represent. Tlaib will probably win re-election in a landslide.
Actually, many Muslims who live there don’t agree with her “end justifies the means” message but like most electorates they don’t get out and vote. So we get extremists like her because her followers vote.
So like I said. Don’t blame her. Blame her electorate.
Yes, you're right. Liz Cheney put honesty, integrity and principles above loyalty to those to whom those virtues are anathema. It appears to me that in America you pay a heavy price for doing that.
I'll guess we'll see at the next election if either a majority or minority of Muslims of her electorate are supporters of terrorism.
Good evening/afternoon Buzz, I hope you are doing well.
I don’t question Ms Cheney did what she felt was right, the thing is, we have a representative form of government. Ms Cheney was there to represent the citizens of Wyoming, not herself, she put herself before them and paid the price. It would be like you as an attorney putting your wants above the client. We can’t do that, we either quit or change our clients mind, but we can’t substitute our opinions over theirs. she did and got defeated.
Of course you're right, but IMO as Speaker of the House I think that her qualities are more important than just following her party's line. 'what your country needs these days more than anything is someone who can unite the nation instead of dividing it further and the whole world can see the division just getting wider and wider and how the hell can you get what's important done when it gets so extreme..
Agreed but don’t hold your breath for a good result. Recent history shows otherwise.
NBC , abc or cbs news have not given her comments a second of air time. The team is working to limit the damage.
Hell, when even the ladies from The View call you out then maybe one should really rethink their position on the matter... oy
Well, she’s in luck, because it’s pretty clear that lots of people are investigating it. But I would hope she understands that the current situation there does not make that easy or quick.
All good Americans should shun Tlaib.
She is a dangerous extremist.
Tlaib and the rest of the Squad should be expelled from Congress for un-American activities..
At least Tlaib. the others have merely exhibited how extremely liberal and hypocritical they are. Tlaib is a step or two above the rest of The Squad when it comes to Israel and Palestinians.
But we know that will never happen, best to try to appeal to the voters who should have the sense to regret their vote.
Providing aid and comfort to our enemies.
Treason.
Morning..strange how all the mass hysteria around the world has come to a big screeching halt re the hospital..
I honestly thought for there to be 500 dead it would have to be a direct hit on the hospital by the Israelis...
Then you see it landed in a carpark next to the hospital, the building is still standing and the supposed crater, hell we have got bigger pot holes around here in our roads ..
When more info came out it did not add up to me and as usual the Palestinians exaggerate the death total.. nothing new there...
None of this would not have happened if Hamas had not committed the atrocities in Israel in the first place.
They keep chanting free Palestine....no problem..
Just drop more bombs on Hamas and you will.
Yes shona, the News value dropped dramatically when it just became a terrorist rocket aimed at Israel malfunctioned and killed some Gazans, Sort of your everyday dog bites man story, Ho hum. Please pass me the sports section.
Yep, par for the course for our fine mass media these days …..
“Please pass me the sports section.”
U of M 49 - MSU 0
Bad year all around for MSU.
Lol …. an off topic swing and a miss …..
The news value dropped because it became apparent it was an outright lie, but it was successful in its rallying of millions of useful idiots to protest in support of Hamas.
Yes indeed.
What I don't understand is that from all the evidence I have already read about why it was not Israel and was a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket that nobody will publish it as fact and put an end to the speculation because of all the wrongful opinions that that speculation is STILL causing.