Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress, has accused President Joe Biden of backing “genocide” against Palestinians and threatened repercussions in next year’s election.
In a video released late Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Democratic Congresswoman from Michigan reiterated her pleas for Biden to support a cease-fire in the nearly month-long Israel-Hamas conflict.
“Joe Biden supported the genocide of the Palestinian people,” Tlaib said in the video clip, which featured images of the dead and injured from Gaza bombings, pro-Palestinian protests across the United States, Biden declaring support for Israel, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanking the US president.
A request for comment on her statements was not immediately responded to by White House spokesmen.
Following Israel’s claim that gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Hamas killed 1,400 people and kidnapped over 240 in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, the Israeli military launched an air, artillery, and ground offensive against the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, which Palestinian authorities claim has killed over 9,400 people.
Food is short in Gaza, citizens are forced to drink salty water, and medical facilities are failing.
Washington has maintained strong military and diplomatic support for Israel while urging its ally to take actions to prevent civilian casualties and solve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
