Being a member of Congress comes with responsibilities, it is not just a greater platform for commentators to share their thoughts.
And when lawmakers and representatives of the United States spread false claims, it can have detrimental results.
On Wednesday, National Review’s John McCormack sought to ask two progressive members of the so-called “Squad” about their tweets promoting a claim that Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza.
Shortly after news broke about the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) seized on the allegations.
She wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians (doctors, children, patients) just like that.”
“[Biden] this is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire [and] help de-escalate. Your war and destruction only approach has opened my eyes and many Palestinian Americans and Muslims Americans like me. We will remember where you stood,” she added.
And Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) tweeted, “Bombing a hospital is among the gravest of war crimes. The IDF reportedly blowing up one of the few places the injured and wounded can seek medical treatment and shelter during a war is horrific.”
Bombing a hospital is among the gravest of war crimes. The IDF reportedly blowing up one of the few places the injured and wounded can seek medical treatment and shelter during a war is horrific.@POTUS needs to push for an immediate ceasefire to end this slaughter. https://t.co/dPJ48dyDe8
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 17, 2023
But after the initial shock of allegations, information came to light that raised serious doubts about the initial narrative, which was spread by Hamas — the same organization that slaughtered Jewish people in Israel.
Israeli officials denied they had aircraft operating in the area and released what they say is radar data showing rockets from Gaza passing over the hospital.
Additionally, U.S. defense officials said there is “high confidence” intelligence that Islamic Jihad and not Israel was responsible for the blast.
Meanwhile, journalists have raised doubts the damage sustained by the blast was consistent with an Israeli air strike. The Intercept’s Murtaza Hussain shared a picture from the location of the hospital on Wednesday and wrote, “Provisionally this image does not look consistent with an airstrike. In daylight it’s clear that the hospital building itself was not leveled but rather the cars in the parking lot may have ignited.”
In light of the information that came out refuting the claim Israel struck the hospital, McCormack tried to ask Tlaib and Omar about their posts, which had not been deleted over a day later.
“I just asked [Omar] why she hasn’t deleted her tweet—and whether she has seen the evidence that refutes it, and whether she has or had any evidence to support her claim that Israel killed 500 civilians at a Gaza hospital. She refused to say anything,” McCormack wrote.
I just asked Congresswoman @IlhanMN why she hasn’t deleted her tweet—and whether she has seen the evidence that refutes it, and whether she has or had any evidence to support her claim that Israel killed 500 civilians at a Gaza hospital.
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) October 18, 2023
She refused to say anything. https://t.co/HW0DHdPZhE
In a separate post, he wrote, “I just asked [Tlaib] multiple times why she hasn’t deleted this tweet—and whether she has seen evidence that refutes it. Rep. Tlaib refused to say anything as she rushed from the House floor to a car waiting to pick her up outside the Capitol building.”
I just asked @RashidaTlaib multiple times why she hasn’t deleted this tweet—and whether she has seen evidence that refutes it.
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) October 18, 2023
Rep. Tlaib refused to say anything as she rushed from the House floor to a car waiting to pick her up outside the Capitol building. https://t.co/HxvvgqKZyS
Such behavior is shameful.
These are two members of the U.S. government who spread — without any kind of an investigation or evidence — an incredibly inflammatory claim about one of our closest allies. And even as American officials shoot down the allegation, they remain silent.
The claim they spread has had real-world consequences, from sparking massive protests throughout the Middle East to scuttling a summit with President Joe Biden and the leaders of Arab nations and increasing the chance that Israel’s war on Hamas becomes a regional conflict.
Beyond that, there is a likelihood it will fuel antisemitism in the U.S. and abroad while so many Jewish people are on edge as they see people rally around the world to cheer on Hamas after its Oct. 7 massacre.
The only appropriate response would be to delete the posts, issue an apology for sharing false information, and condemn Hamas and Islamic Jihad — not run away and try to avoid the consequences of spreading terrorist propaganda.
