Rashida Tlaib Blasted Over Hamas Rape Vote: 'Absolute Sicko'

Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib has come under fire on social media after being the only voting member of the House not to back a resolution condemning "rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas" on Wednesday.

Tlaib, the sole Palestinian American in Congress, voted present, meaning neither in favor or opposed, in protest of the resolution not also referencing what she said was "sexual violence and abuse committed by the Israeli forces against Palestinians." In total, 418 representatives backed the motion with no votes against and 12 not voting at all.

Newsweek reached out to Tlaib's office via email for comment.

On October 7, Hamas fighters launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 Israelis and taking several hundred hostages, of whom more than 100 remain in the militant's captivity. There were widespread reports that some of the women killed, both at Re'im music festival and in individual kibbutz, were first subjected to rape. Israel has since waged war in Gaza, where 28,000 Palestinians have been killed to date, according to the Associated Press, citing the Gaza Health Ministry.

Speaking in the House, ahead of her "present" vote, Tlaib said: "While the resolution on the floor rightfully denounces any sexual violence by Hamas, I am disturbed that it completely ignores and erases any sexual violence and abuse committed by the Israeli forces, against Palestinians, especially children.

"War crimes cannot justify more war crimes. We must stand up for everyone's safety and human rights no matter their faith, no matter their ethnicity. There are numerous well-documented reports of sexual violence, including rape, committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in their custody."

Tlaib went on to cite an article from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, titled "Settlers and Soldiers Abused Palestinians," which alleged a group of Israeli soldiers and settlers detained three Palestinians in the West Bank in October who were then stripped to their underwear and beaten. In one case, there was allegedly "an attempt to penetrate one of them with an object." The Israeli military later dismissed five soldiers over the incident and is considering closing down their entire unit.

Tlaib has spoken out passionately against the Israeli invasion of Gaza which she has labeled a "genocide." Speaking in December, with reference to U.S. aid to Israel, Tlaib claimed: "Our country is funding these massacres."

In November, Tlaib was censured by the House of Representatives following a 234-188 vote in response to her use of the controversial "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" slogan.

Reacting on X, formerly Twitter, to Tlaib's vote, Aviva Klompas, an Israeli author with 215,000 followers on the platform, wrote: "The U.S. House of Representatives voted 418-0 to condemn Hamas for rape and sexual violence on October 7. Only Rashida Tlaib refused to join in condemning Hamas. She is more comfortable standing with rapists than Israeli women."

Hen Mazzig, an Israeli commentator who wrote The Wrong Kind of Jew: A Mizrahi Manifesto, posted: "This should be a leading headline on every media channel: a US sitting congressperson refused to condemn rape. The only sitting congressperson to not support the resolution to condemn Hamas' sexual crimes was Rashida Tlaib. The resolution passed: 418-0-1."

Joe Walsh, a conservative commentator and former congressman, shared a news story about Tlaib's remarks on X, writing: "Despicable. But not surprising. She is who she is. She needs to be defeated by another Democrat in the primary."

Ellie Cohanim, formerly the U.S. deputy special envoy to combat antisemitism under the Trump administration, posted: "Rashida Tlaib is the ONLY member of Congress who refuses to condemn Hamas' rape. What an absolute sicko."

The text of Wednesday's resolution stated: "This resolution condemns acts of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war, including those acts committed by Hamas on and since October 7, 2023. The resolution also calls on all nations to criminalize rape and sexual assault and hold accountable all perpetrators of sexual violence, including state and non-state armed groups."

Earlier this week the Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package which includes an additional $14 billion in military assistance for Israel.

However Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to say he will bring the legislation to a vote in the House, which it also needs to pass before President Biden can sign it into law.