‘Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians,’ Tlaib said
(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) rushed to blame Israel and parrot claims from Hamas following a Tuesday blast at a Gazan hospital. Now that evidence has emerged contradicting those claims, the lawmakers are silent.
“Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians (doctors, children, patients),” Tlaib said shortly after news broke of an explosion at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. “This is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate.” Omar echoed Tlaib’s rhetoric, saying, “The [Israel Defense Forces] reportedly blowing up one of the few places the injured and wounded can seek medical treatment and shelter during a war is horrific.”
It did not take long for evidence to emerge contradicting those claims. The morning after the attack, footage from Gaza showed the hospital intact, with damage largely confined to the building’s parking lot. Shortly thereafter, both President Joe Biden and senior U.S. officials cited independent data showing that a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket—not an Israeli missile—misfired and hit the hospital.
Both Tlaib and Omar, however, have remained silent. Both of the lawmakers’ statements remain live on X, formerly Twitter, and neither returned requests for comments. Tlaib on Wednesday morning was nonetheless active on social media, with the Democrat sharing a post from the left-wing Working Families Party urging members of Congress to “call for ceasefire and de-escalation” in Gaza.
Tlaib and Omar’s claims that Israel bombed the Gaza hospital—and that hundreds of Palestinians died in the attack—came from Hamas directly. The terror group made those assertions Tuesday evening through its “health ministry.”
While an accurate death toll from the blast is not yet known, daytime footage from the hospital suggests that Hamas’s hasty death toll of at least 500 is not accurate. The blast’s impact site extended mere meters, photos show, and even an awning next to the hospital parking lot remains standing. The hospital’s chapel, meanwhile, only took damage to some of its stained-glass windows.
Even Murtaza Hussain, a writer at left-wing outletThe Intercept, acknowledged Wednesday that daytime footage from the hospital “does not look consistent” with an Israeli airstrike.
“In daylight it’s clear that the hospital building itself was not leveled but rather the cars in the parking lot may have ignited,” Hussain said.
Tlaib and Omar are known for making anti-Israel and anti-Semitic statements. Omar, for example, has argued that Israel “hypnotized the world,” said that U.S. support for Israel is ”all about the Benjamins,” and compared the United States and Israel to terrorist organizations. Omar in February was removed from her post on the House Foreign Affairs Committee due to those statements.
How can Tlaib and Omar’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be improved to foster a meaningful dialogue and work towards a just and lasting peace
Nky” rel=”noopener”>Working Families Party promoting a livestream event she was hosting that evening.
This is not the first time that Tlaib and Omar have rushed to blame Israel without waiting for evidence. In 2019, the two lawmakers accused Israel of barring them from visiting the country, claiming it was due to their support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. However, evidence later emerged showing that the real reason for the ban was their planned itinerary, which included a meeting with a group that promotes BDS and has ties to terrorism.
These baseless accusations and rush to judgment undermine the credibility of Tlaib and Omar as lawmakers. By parroting unverified claims from Hamas and spreading misinformation, they are contributing to the demonization of Israel and the perpetuation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It is essential for policymakers to approach such sensitive issues with caution and rely on verified information before making accusations. Tlaib and Omar’s actions demonstrate a reckless disregard for the facts and a willingness to push their own agenda even at the expense of the truth.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a complex and deeply rooted issue that requires careful consideration and nuanced understanding. Blaming one side without proper evidence only serves to further polarize and inflame the situation.
As elected officials, Tlaib and Omar have a responsibility to promote dialogue, diplomacy, and peace. Instead, their knee-jerk reactions and uncritical acceptance of one-sided narratives contribute to the escalation of tensions and hinder any potential progress towards a peaceful resolution.
In order to foster a meaningful dialogue and work towards a just and lasting peace, it is crucial for all parties involved, including lawmakers and politicians, to approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the necessary objectivity and respect for the truth.
Tlaib and Omar’s silence in the face of evidence contradicting their initial claims raises questions about their credibility and motives. It is a disservice to their constituents and the American people as a whole. The electorate deserves representatives who prioritize truth, accuracy, and the pursuit of peace.
Going forward, it is imperative that Tlaib and Omar reconsider their approach. They must recognize the importance of responsible and informed statements, especially when dealing with such sensitive and contentious issues. Their constituents and the American public deserve better than knee-jerk reactions and unfounded accusations.
By withholding comment and refusing to acknowledge the contradictory evidence, Tlaib and Omar demonstrate a lack of integrity and a disregard for the principles of honesty and accountability. It is crucial that they take responsibility for their actions and strive to correct the record.
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