On Sunday, both the GOP and many Democrats strongly criticized Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) after she expressed the need for more balanced critiques regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas. She made these remarks when asked about progressives’ silence on accusations suggesting that Hamas was involved in the sexual assault of Israeli women.
The head of the Progressive Caucus, Jayapal, promptly condemned the potential sexual violence against women on October 7. However, she proceeded to assert that as a response, Israel was responsible for the deaths of 15,000 Palestinians. In her appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” she emphasized that women and children constituted two-thirds of the casualties resulting from Israel’s actions.
Dana Bash, the host on CNN, noted that the majority of progressive women have not issued any comments regarding the purported sexual assaults carried out by Hamas during the October 7 attack.
In reply, Jayapal highlighted that she wasn’t entirely certain about the veracity of the allegations. She further mentioned that discussions frequently revolved around the impact of war on women. She mentioned that she has denounced the actions of Hamas and has previously condemned acts of rape.
Nevertheless, she swiftly shifted the discussion by highlighting that Israel has not adhered to international humanitarian law. She further emphasized that morally, it is untenable to argue that one war crime justifies another.
Bash promptly challenged these statements, contending that her original inquiry had centered around women, yet the congresswoman promptly shifted the conversation back to Israel.
