Ilhan Omar Reacts to Hamas Assault on Israel

Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, has condemned the ongoing Hamas assault on Israel, which has left around 200 dead and 1,100 injured. Hamas launched the invasion and attacks on Israel, claiming to take the Israeli military and security services by surprise. Omar has been one of Israel’s strongest critics in the U.S. government, regularly condemning human rights abuses against Palestinians. However, her defenders have pushed back against this assessment, pointing out that she regularly calls out alleged human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia and other nations as well.

Omar made history as one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018, along with Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Both progressive lawmakers have regularly condemned Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and have received substantial criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike. Some groups, such as IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace, have also responded to the unfolding events, pointing to the Israeli government’s actions as the source of the violent response from Hamas.

Israel and its defenders reject the idea that it is an apartheid state, with human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch stating that the Israeli governments’ treatment of Palestinians amounts to apartheid. The United States has condemned the attack, while the United Nations’ Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned Hamas’ actions.