Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) put his support behind Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) on Wednesday amid criticism over her flying a Palestinian flag outside her Capitol Hill office and a statement she made about the war.
Criticism has mounted against Tlaib after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, starting a war that has killed more than 2,000 people on both sides. Tlaib is of Palestinian heritage.
“She’s Palestinian. It doesn’t mean she’s a terrorist. It doesn’t mean that she condones this,” Hoyer told a Fox News reporter in the Capitol. “I fly a Danish flag at my house.”
In a statement Saturday, Tlaib denounced the violence and showed support for the Palestinian and Israeli people but said the circumstances of the conflict were instigated by Israel.
“The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other,” she said.
“As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue,” she continued.
That statement sparked backlash from Democrats and Republicans who criticized Tlaib for not being critical enough of Hamas.
The U.S. and its Western allies have publicly backed Israel amid the recent escalation in the ongoing conflict. In a Tuesday address, President Biden said Israel has a right to defend itself and vowed U.S. support.
“In this moment we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel,” Biden said in remarks from the State Dining Room. “And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. There’s no justification for terrorism. There’s no excuse.”
“It’s abhorrent,” he continues. “The brutality of Hamas … brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism. But sadly, for the Jewish people, it’s not new.”