White House says rape as a weapon is ‘reprehensible’ in response to Jayapal CNN exchange

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday said President Biden finds the use of rape as a weapon of war “reprehensible,” when she was asked about Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (D-Wash.) recent comments on rapes being committed by Hamas fighters.

CNN anchor Dana Bash on Sunday pressed Jayapal on the silence from some fellow progressive leaders on Hamas’ use of rape as a weapon of war against Israeli women, but Jayapal pivoted her answer to focus on Israel. Bash noted that diversion and Jayapal responded, “I think that rape is horrific,” adding that the U.S. has to be balanced because of the amount of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes. 

Bash responded directly: “And it’s horrible, but you don’t see Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women.” Jayapal replied, “Well, Dana, I think we’re not — we’re not — I don’t want this to be the hierarchy of oppressions.”

Jean-Pierre on Monday said that the White House has been clear in its stance on the rapes that occurred on Oct. 7, when the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel’s southern border, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 240 hostages. 

“What Hamas did is absolutely reprehensible. And, full stop. We’re going to continue to be clear about that. When we think about rape and the use of rape as being used as a weapon, that is also reprehensible, and that’s full stop,” she said. “And that’s speaking for the president of the United States, I think I’ve been very clear on that.”

When pressed if she has a comment on Jayapal’s comments specifically, Jean-Pierre added, “I just commented on it. I just laid out what we believe is unacceptable.”

The exchange between Jayapal and Bash has received attention and criticism over the last day. Jayapal’s colleague in the House, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), said she plans to discuss the matter with Jayapal after she said she was doxed because of her condemnation of Hamas’s use of rape against Israeli women.