In a shocking turn of events on Tuesday, the House of Representatives witnessed a split among members of the far-left “Squad” during votes on critical resolutions regarding Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.
Representatives Rashida Tlaib from Michigan and Cori Bush from Missouri, both part of the radical eight-person “Squad,” notably abstained from voting in favor of H. Res. 888, a resolution focusing on affirming Israel’s right to exist. Tlaib took a distinctive approach by voting “present,” while Bush refrained from voting altogether.
The division continued with H. Res. 793, condemning Hamas’ vicious attack on Israel on October 7. Surprisingly, Bush abstained from voting on this resolution as well. Contrary to her previous stance, Tlaib aligned with the rest of the “Squad” in supporting the resolution despite her earlier reluctance to condemn the attack.
After the votes, Tlaib shared her perspective with Fox News Digital, emphasizing the need for both Israelis and Palestinians to live with democracy, safety, peace, and human dignity. She criticized H. Res. 888 for allegedly ignoring the existence of the Palestinian people and falling short of promoting peaceful coexistence. Tlaib argued for the recognition of Palestinians’ rights to coexist with Israelis in their historic homeland, advocating for equal rights and freedom.
In a decisive outcome, H. Res. 793 passed overwhelmingly with a 414-0 vote, while H. Res. 888 secured approval with a vote of 412-1. Notably, both resolutions required a two-thirds majority to pass.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, stood as the lone “No” vote against H. Res. 888. Massie explained his dissent in a post on X, expressing agreement with the resolution’s title and much of its language. However, he voiced concerns about the resolution equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism, arguing that while antisemitism is deplorable, expanding it to include criticism of Israel is unhelpful.
The voting landscape further featured several members from both parties who opted not to vote for either resolution, with reasons remaining unclear at this time.
The “Squad’s” apparent support for the resolutions signals a shift from their previous stance in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack, where all but one member voted against a resolution condemning antisemitism on American college campuses.
Tlaib, in particular, faced severe criticism for her response to the attacks. She had refused to condemn them and reiterated her debunked claim that Israel was responsible for the explosion at a Gaza hospital, reportedly resulting in hundreds of casualties.
The House took decisive action earlier this month, voting to censure Tlaib for “promoting false narratives” regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for advocating the destruction of the state of Israel. While largely symbolic, the censure serves as a formal public rebuke of Tlaib’s comments.