Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is once again facing criticism for her outspoken comments about the situation in Gaza. In a recent appeal to President Joe Biden, Ocasio-Cortez accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. However, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was quick to deliver a rebuttal, arguing that her claims lacked factual and legal foundation.
The controversy began when Ocasio-Cortez stated, "If you want to know what an unfolding genocide looks like, open your eyes." She went on to claim that Israel was intentionally slowing and halting aid to Gaza, causing a forced famine of 1.1 million innocent people. These comments were met with outrage and accusations of spreading false information.
Genocide requires intent. And Israel has been patently clear with its objectives: To cripple Hamas terrorists & release the hostages. @AOC's accusation lacks proper factual or legal foundation. Such statements merely perpetuate false claims & foster hate. https://t.co/bmMrQ2nyDg
— ADL (@ADL) March 24, 2024
The ADL was among the groups to condemn Ocasio-Cortez's statement. In a tweet, the ADL argued that genocide requires intent and that Israel's actions were aimed at crippling Hamas terrorists and releasing hostages. They also pointed out that Hamas is responsible for making it difficult for aid to enter Gaza and has a history of stealing such aid. The ADL also accused Ocasio-Cortez of perpetuating false claims and fostering hate.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to the ADL's criticism by doubling down on her claims. She stated, "Starving a million innocent people to death by halting and slowing US humanitarian assistance is a massive, deliberate choice." She argued that such actions were irrelevant to Israel's objectives and only made it more difficult to reach those objectives.
Starving a million innocent people to death by halting and slowing US humanitarian assistance is massive, deliberate choice.
Not only is it irrelevant to those objectives, it brings them further out of reach and endangers hostages.
There is no defense for forced famine. https://t.co/WevYNNw8df
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 24, 2024
Her comments sparked a backlash, with many pointing out that Hamas is ultimately responsible for the situation in Gaza. They argue that the terrorist organization chooses to continue holding hostages and using funds for terror activities, rather than improving the lives of the people in Gaza. Many also criticized Ocasio-Cortez for repeating Hamas propaganda and failing to acknowledge the terrorist group's role in the suffering of the people in Gaza.
Actor Michael Rapaport also joined in the criticism, challenging Ocasio-Cortez to write a 10-paragraph unbiased news article on the situation, without plagiarism.
This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced backlash for her comments about the situation in Gaza. In May, she tweeted that "the United States must acknowledge its role in the injustice and human rights violations" in the region. Many condemned her for not acknowledging the actions of Hamas and other terrorist groups in perpetuating violence and suffering in Gaza.