White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is not sharing whether she believes Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) needs to clarify her comments about Hamasâ sexual violence.
During a segment of âThe Viewâ Tuesday, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin asked the press secretary about Jayapalâs view that outrage about sexual violence by Hamas on Oct. 7 should be balanced out.
âThe House Democrats are planning to introduce a resolution this week, both condemning the use of rape in war against Israeli women, seemingly in response to Progressive Caucus chairwomanâs comments this past weekend â Rep. Jayapal â basically saying we need to be balanced in our criticism, which was interpreted by many, myself included, to downplay the horrors of the actions of Oct. 7th,â Griffin said.
She asked, âDoes the White House support this resolution, and do you think the representative needs to clarify her remarks?â
âSo, look, Iâm going to let the representative speak for herself. I just canât speak for her. I speak for the President of the United States. I am the White House press secretary, obviously, so thatâs who I speak for,â Jean-Pierre responded.
She went on, âWhat I can say, and I said this in Sara âs question when I answered it, which⌠when it comes to rape, thatâs reprehensible. When it comes to using rape as a weapon of war, thatâs reprehensible. We are very, very clear about denouncing Hamasâ actions. And thatâs what the president has been clear about.â
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Griffin pressed, âDo you think because of her perch, though, as a progressive leader, she should clarify her remarks?â
âI speak for the president. She has to speak for herself,â Jean-Pierre answered.
During an interview on CNN on Sunday, Jayapal was asked about accusations progressives have been silent about Hamasâ brutal acts of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks.
She began by stating she has condemned such atrocities, but quickly pivoted to state, âIsrael is a democracy. That is why they are a strong ally of ours. And if they do not comply with international humanitarian law, they are bringing themselves to a place that makes it much more difficult strategically for them to be able to build the kinds of allies to keep public opinion with them.â
âI think that rape is horrific. Sexual assault is horrific. I think that it happens in war situations. Terrorist organizations like Hamas obviously are using these as tools,â she added. âI think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians. Fifteen thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, three-quarters of whom are women and children.â
