The longstanding Israel-Hamas conflict has once again become a contentious issue within the Democratic Party, following recent pager and walkie-talkie attacks that have reignited the debate.
As reported by Newsweek, a series of pager explosions occurred in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, resulting in the death of at least 12 individuals, including two children, and injuring thousands more. The following day, a second wave of explosions involving walkie-talkies used by the militant group Hezbollah, claimed at least 20 lives and injured 450, according to the Health Ministry. Israel is believed to be behind these attacks, although no official statement has been made.
Prominent Democrats, including New York's 14th congressional district representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Minnesota's 5th congressional district representative Ilhan Omar, have voiced their opposition to these strikes. AOC stated on social media, "Israel's pager attack in Lebanon detonated thousands of handheld devices across of a slew of public spaces, seriously injuring and killing innocent civilians. This attack clearly and unequivocally violates international humanitarian law and undermines US efforts to prevent a wider conflict." She called for a full accounting of the attack, questioning whether any US assistance was involved in the development or deployment of this technology.
Omar echoed these sentiments, criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "reckless disregard for civilian lives in the pager attack in Lebanon" and calling for a cessation of military aid to Israel. Senator Bernie Sanders is reportedly preparing resolutions to halt over $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel, arguing that much of the destruction in Gaza has been carried out with U.S.-provided military equipment.
However, not all Democrats are in agreement. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has expressed his support for the attacks, stating, "I absolutely endorse weaponizing Hezbollah's tools of terror against themselves." Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, president of the Democratic Majority for Israel group, reposted a message from columnist David French, who praised the precision of Israel's pager bombs as "one of the most precisely targeted strikes in the history of warfare."
Hezbollah, officially designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S., has been conducting cross-border attacks on Israel, a strategy many believe is intended to maintain pressure on Israel and aid the Gaza-based Hamas, another U.S. designated terrorist group.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denied any U.S. involvement in the pager attack, stating, "With regard to Lebanon, the United States did not know about nor was it involved in these incidents. We're still gathering the information, gathering the facts." He emphasized the importance of avoiding actions that could escalate the conflict.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, has faced conflicting pressures regarding the Middle East conflict. While she has shown sympathy towards Palestinian suffering and supports a two-state solution, she also believes in Israel's right to self-defense and has rejected calls for an arms embargo on Israel.
Harris has faced pro-Palestine protests and accusations of funding genocide due to the Harris-Biden administration's financial support for Israel. Despite these challenges, she continues to affirm her support for a ceasefire and Israel's right to self-defense, even in the face of former President Donald Trump's claims that she "hates Israel." Harris has refuted these allegations, asserting her lifelong support for Israel.
The Israel-Hamas conflict continues to be a divisive issue within the Democratic Party, with differing viewpoints on the recent attacks and the broader question of U.S. involvement in the region. As the debate continues, the party must navigate these complexities while maintaining its commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.
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