Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman to serve in Congress, is demanding the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
She made the demand in a statement Tuesday, as Democrats are grappling with deep intra-party divisions over the state of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and the IDF began carrying out military operations in Rafah, a major city in Gaza.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are reiterating their plans to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) over comments that some Jewish students were “pro-genocide,” which she made during an appearance at Columbia University — the site of ongoing contentious protests that have at times veered into antisemitic rhetoric.
“There is nowhere safe in Gaza,” Tlaib said in a statement. “I urge the ICC to swiftly issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials to finally hold them accountable for this genocide.”
Tlaib has previously declined to urge supporters to back President Joe Biden for reelection in November, citing his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Republicans, who have tended to widely side with Israel after the attacks on Oct. 7, have frequently criticized Tlaib and other progressives for siding with Hamas.
To that end, House Republicans are prepared to formally pursue another censure of Omar over her recent comments at Columbia that “we should not have to tolerate antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students — whether they are pro-genocide or anti-genocide.”
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) reiterated Tuesday he’d pursue censure, though he added he would not make his resolution privileged — which would force a quick vote.
“It’s just unacceptable, so I want to take a bold stand,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t like me forcing stuff on the agenda when [Speaker Mike Johnson] has got so many other things.”
He predicted that many Democrats would support his resolution, indicating many told him privately they would.
Omar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment
Jordain Carney and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
