Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who has lengthy referred to as for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and has urged the administration of President Joe Biden to withhold U.S. navy assist to Israel, didn’t mince phrases when she was harassed Wednesday on Capitol Hill.
The progressive lawmaker, who is without doubt one of the solely Muslim ladies in Congress, was captured in footage shared on social media being surrounded by pro-Israel protesters as she tried to enter an elevator who instructed her to “go to Gaza, sweetheart.”
Omar responded bluntly with an specific retort: “Fuck you.”
Israel’s navy has relentlessly bombed the Gaza Strip for greater than a 12 months in retaliation for a Hamas assault Oct. 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 folks. The bombings and different navy actions have killed no less than 40,000 males, ladies and youngsters, destroyed faculties and hospitals, and led to severe considerations about famine.
Omar’s response got here after almost a complete minute of the group ready alongside her on the elevator whereas asking “what are you doing,” “why do you stand with Hamas” and “would you just condemn Hamas, would you just say that it’s wrong to take hostages?”
“Just say that,” one of many protesters continued within the footage. “You can’t say that?”
Jacquelyn Martin/Related Press
She has been subjected to Islamophobia since taking workplace in 2019, together with being focused by then-President Donald Trump on Twitter.
The group of protesters who ambushed Omar on Wednesday have been recognized as members of Betar US, a motion of staunch Israel supporters, by Israeli newspaper Ynet.
The group additionally shared footage of members knocking on the door of Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Capitol Hill whereas laughing — someday earlier than the United Nations launched a report detailing how Israel’s actions in Gaza are “consistent with the characteristics of genocide.”
