Democrats and Gaza: The resonating silence says it all

Israel and Gaza agreed on a ceasefire on Monday after an intense and bloody conflict saw the death of four Israelis dead and 234 injured, while 23 Palestinians died and 60 more were injured, with close to 700 rockets being fired by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants and over 250 attacks from the Israeli Air Force on in Gaza.

Many politicians worldwide made their comments in support of one side or the other during this latest conflict. US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to show his support of Israel when he said that “We support Israel 100% in its defense of its citizens.”

Once again, Israel faces a barrage of deadly rocket attacks by terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We support Israel 100% in its defense of its citizens….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2019
Trump’s support of Israel is unquestionable as his actions speak clearly when he moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem and declared the Golan Heights to be Israeli.

With the 2020 US Presidential elections at stake, not many American politicians made their comments on the latest Israeli-Gaza conflict.

Only a single Democratic presidential candidate tweeted about the situation, and even that was not in favor of Israel. Former senator (D-AK) Mike Gravel tweeted “Long live Palestine!” And that is where the list ends.

What about Democratic representatives who did not announce their campaign for the presidential elections?

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib slammed The New York Times for a headline reading “Gaza Militants Fire 250 Rockets, and Israel Responds With Airstrikes.” Tlaib claimed on Twitter that “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.”

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
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar started by condemning violence in general, but added that “The status quo of occupation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unsustainable.”

How many more protesters must be shot, rockets must be fired, and little kids must be killed until the endless cycle of violence ends?

The status quo of occupation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unsustainable. Only real justice can bring about security and lasting peace.

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 5, 2019
A democratic representative who stood by Israel is Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema who tweeted “I condemn the rocket attacks on innocent civilians and stand in support of Israel and peace.”

I condemn the rocket attacks on innocent civilians and stand in support of Israel and peace.

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) May 6, 2019
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez also spoke in favor of Israel, saying that “The United States will not waver in standing with Israel and its people.”

The Jerusalem Post reported last month that a Gallup poll in March showed a 6% drop in support for Israel within the Democratic Party, and that a 2018 poll found that only 49% of Democrats sympathize more with Israel than with the Palestinians.

If this incident shows anything, it’s that these numbers are either worse than expected, or that Democratic representatives are afraid to take a stand in times of conflict as to not anger any of their supporters.

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