U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar on Oct. 8, 2023, called for peace in the Middle East in the wake of Israel’s response to Hamas’ brutal attack on the Jewish state.
Before the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Palestinian groups, she had reaffirmed her support for the concept of a free Palestine.
Omar and her colleague Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both progressive lawmakers known for their advocacy on various social justice issues, have consistently lent their voices to the ongoing global discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Omar, representing Minnesota’s 5th congressional district and Ocasio-Cortez, representing New York’s 14th congressional district, have been vocal proponents of human rights and justice.
They have used their platforms to express solidarity with the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination.
Omar has said she believes in justice and human rights for all.
“My solidarity is with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom and self-determination. It’s crucial that we work towards a peaceful and equitable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” she had tweeted earlier.
However, in the wake of Israel’s response to the Hamas attack, she tweeted the following on Sunday, Oct. 8:
“Reminder, Gaza doesn’t have shelters or an iron dome and to please pray for them. May peace prevail in the region and move us towards a moral awakening to care about the human suffering we are seeing. Palestinians are human beings who have been in besieged and are deserving of protection from the international community.”
Both Omar and Ocasio-Cortez’s positions reflect the sentiments of many human rights organizations, activists, international leaders and the U.S. government, which supports a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
It is a divisive issue, and lawmakers in the U.S. Congress have diverse viewpoints on how the United States should address it.
The recent escalation in violence underscores the complexity and sensitivity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
