Anti-Israel US Lawmakers Largely Silent Amid Release of Final Living Hostages From Gaza
US Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) addresses attendees as she takes part in a protest calling for a ceasefire in Gaza outside the US Capitol, in Washington, DC, US, Oct. 18, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis
Several of the US Congress’s most outspoken critics of Israel have remained notably silent following the release of the remaining living Israeli hostages from Gaza on Monday.
Progressive lawmakers such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) have not issued statements acknowledging or reacting to the agreement as of this writing, nor have conservative critics of Israel such as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY).
Two lawmakers who often castigate Israel, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), did end up issuing statements that seemed to focus more on the damage caused by the Israeli military campaign in Gaza than the hostages.
“Seven weeks ago I met with families in Hostages Square and I am relieved their long nightmare has finally come to an end with the return of the remaining living hostages,” Van Hollen posted on social media. “I also witnessed the utter devastation in Gaza and am relieved by the ceasefire & surge of humanitarian aid to civilians there.”
Meanwhile, Sanders in a statement lambasted what he described as Israel’s “barbaric campaign” in Gaza and described US support for the Israeli campaign to target Hamas as an “extremely dark chapter.” He briefly mentioned the hostages in one sentence.
“Today, we welcome the long overdue release of the 20 remaining Israelis held by Hamas and the freeing of almost 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails,” Sanders said. The senator appeared to be comparing Israelis kidnapped by invading Hamas fighters to Palestinian security prisoners, including hundreds of convicted terrorists serving life sentences.
The silence of many US lawmakers is striking given their frequent, vocal demands for an immediate ceasefire while condemning Israel’s conduct in Gaza and calling attention to alleged human rights abuses. Many of these lawmakers, including Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Pressley, Sanders, and Greene, have accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza. Massie has accused Israel of indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructure, and Van Hollen has accused Israel of deliberately starving civilians.
Israel says it has gone to unprecedented lengths to try and avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, noting its efforts to evacuate areas before it targets them and to warn residents of impending military operations with leaflets, text messages, and other forms of communication.
Another challenge for Israel has been Hamas’s widely recognized military strategy of embedding its terrorists within Gaza’s civilian population and commandeering civilian facilities like hospitals, schools, and mosques to run operations and direct attacks.
None of the lawmakers responded to The Algemeiner‘s requests for comment on the hostage release, which came as part of the US-brokered ceasefire to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
However, some pro-Israel lawmakers were quick to release statements marking the release of the hostages. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), one of the most vocal allies of Israel in Congress, praised the “great American leadership” of US President Donald Trump in securing the release of the hostages. He urged the Hamas terrorist group to “lay down their weapons and step away from all governing responsibilities” in the Gaza enclave.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), another strident supporter of the Jewish state, praised the resilience of the surviving hostages.
“Those who were taken on October 7th will outlast the terrorist organization that tore them from their families and homes and unleashed a war of untold suffering,” Torres wrote, referring to Hamas’s Oct. 7, invasion of southern Israel during which the hostages were kidnapped.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote on X that “we will never again allow Hamas to threaten the United States and our friends.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) added, “Today is a victory for Israel, President Trump, and peace.” However, Cruz cautioned that “Hamas remains incredibly dangerous” and will likely attempt to attack Israel again in the future.