Tlaib criticizes New York Times for framing of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) on Sunday criticized The New York Times for its framing of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling the paper’s headline about the recent violence in the region “dehumanizing.” 

Tlaib was responding to a Times headline that read “Gaza militants fire 250 rockets, and Israel responds with airstrikes.”

{mosads}”When will the world stop dehumanizing our Palestinian people who just want to be free?” Tlaib wrote. “Headlines like this & framing it in this way just feeds into the continued lack of responsibility on Israel who unjustly oppress & target Palestinian children and families. #FreePalestine.” 

When will the world stop dehumanizing our Palestinian people who just want to be free? Headlines like this & framing it in this way just feeds into the continued lack of responsibility on Israel who unjustly oppress & target Palestinian children and families. #FreePalestine https://t.co/p3X3j8WtwM

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) May 5, 2019

Renewed violence has rocked the region since Friday when a Palestinian sniper wounded two Israeli troops, according to the Israeli military, leading Israel to launch airstrikes into Gaza. At least four Israelis and 20 Palestinians have died so far, The Associated Press reported, including two pregnant Palestinian women.  

Gaza militants had fired approximately 600 rockets toward Israel as of Sunday, with Israel launching airstrikes on 260 targets across Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said.

The IDF has denied killing a 1-year-old baby and the baby’s mother in Gaza, claiming their deaths were caused by a Hamas rocket.  

Hamas has reportedly called for a ceasefire. 

Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman elected to Congress, has been outspoken about her support for the Palestinian people and rejection of the Israeli government. The Michigan Democrat is seeking to lead a congressional delegation to the West Bank, arguing that it is important to listen to Palestinian activists. 

Fellow freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has ignited multiple firestorms over her remarks about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and U.S. support for Israel, which some panned as anti-Semitic and which progressives defended as legitimate criticism of the close diplomatic ally.