White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stopped short of condemning Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) who said over the weekend that there should be “balance” in calling out Hamas terrorists for using rape and sexual violence against Israeli women.
Jean-Pierre was responding to a question from Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, who asked whether it was appropriate for Jayapal to suggest that criticisms of Hamas should be “balanced” with criticisms of Israel’s response to the October 7th terrorist attack.
WATCH:
WATCH: KJP refuses to directly address Democratic Congresswoman Jayapal's comments about needing "balance" between Israel and Gazans when talking about sexual violence against women on Oct. 7….@JacquiHeinrich: And then, can I get the White House's response to Congresswoman… pic.twitter.com/KTJS1c52Kj
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 4, 2023
“Can I get the White House’s response to Congresswoman Jayapal’s comments over the weekend. In her interview, she said that sexual violence should be condemned, but that we have to be balanced in our condemnation. Was that an appropriate comment?” Heinrich asked.
“So, we’ve been very, very clear. You heard a little bit from — from Jake Sullivan about this. I can only speak for — for the president. Uh, that’s who I can speak for, and we’ve been clear what Hamas did is absolutely reprehensible and — full stop. We’re going to continue to be clear about that. And we think about — you know, rape and the use of rape as being used as a — as a weapon, that is also reprehensible and that’s full stop, and I’ll just leave it there and I’m speaking for the president of the United States. I think there’s been — very clear on that,” Jean Pierre said, but she made no move to criticize Jayapal.
“Any comment, though —” Heinrich pressed again. “— for Congresswoman Jayapal?”
“I just —” Jean-Pierre replied. “I just commented on — I just laid out what we believe is unacceptable.”
During the interview in question, CNN anchor Dana Bash asked Jayapal why it was so difficult to get progressive women — who were usually vocal in their condemnation of sexual violence and rape — to condemn Hamas for such attacks against Israeli women on October 7th.
Jayapal said that she absolutely condemned rape and sexual violence, but immediately pivoted to call for “balance” — and then cited the civilian death tolls published by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry to suggest that Israel was committing war crimes.