OAN Staff James Meyers
1:59 PM – Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Muslim “Squad” member Rashida Tlaib staged a silent protest during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, holding up a double-sided sign that said “War Criminal” and “Guilty of Genocide” as he carried out his speech.
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When Netanyahu entered the House Floor for his address to Congress, Tlaib (D-Mich.) stayed sitting and did not join in any collective applause from other lawmakers as he made his way to the stage. The anti-Israel Democrat did not show emotion as Netanyahu spoke, declining to join in with cheers or applause but instead holding up her sign during remarks.
The Democrat attracted other lawmakers, with Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) confronting her about the sign. After a short conversation, Luna left and Tlaib continued to hold the sign up.
During the address, multiple attendees approached Tlaib, telling her to get rid of the sign, but the “Squad” member would strategically drop it and then hold it back up after they would walk away from her.
This comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) warned congressional staffers not to interrupt the speech, or they risked being arrested and charged by U.S. Capitol Police.
Over five spectators were seized during the beginning of the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech after wearing “Seal the Deal Now” t-shirts, referring to a ceasefire-hostage deal in Gaza.
Tlaib has been an outspoken for Gaza, claiming multiple times that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.
She is the only Palestinian American in Congress, who wore a brooch with a Palestinian pin on a black and white keffiyeh, an icon of solidarity.
Additionally, Tlaib posted a photo on Wednesday with Hani Almadhoun. Almadhoun is the director of Philanthropy for American nonprofit that raises private sector funds and supports the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees who she said has “lost over 150 members of his extended family in Netanyahu’s genocide.”
However, a day earlier, the Israeli parliament approved a bill to declare the nonprofit a terrorist organization and proposed to cut ties with the body. UNRWA has denied that it knowingly aids Hamas or any other militant group.
Meanwhile, several other Democrats boycotted the address. Republicans have criticized Vice President Kamala Harris’s absence, calling it “disgraceful” to one of the U.S.’ closest allies.
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