Pennysylvania Democratic senator John Fetterman, who has recently shown a willingness to publicly differ from the party line espoused by his Democratic colleagues, harshly denounced South Africa — which has a history of racial violence — for accusing Israel of genocide in its war against Hamas.
South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the United Nations’ top court, the International Court of Justice. Eylon Levy, a spokesman for Israel, said Israel would send a legal team “to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel.”
“Who are … they really fighting?” Fetterman declared about Hamas at a luncheon hosted by the Orthodox Union. “It’s a group of cowards. They hide in tunnels; they hide behind civilians. They attack, kill, mutilate children, women; and they do that. Stop talking about proportion on that. They shot their best shot on October 7, and they would have taken more lives if they could have … but they couldn’t do it.”
Then he turned to South Africa’s accusation targeting Israel: “And now let’s also talk about that: Now we’re talking about genocide. And now, South Africa now, is bringing that kind of a trial. Maybe South Africa … ought to sit this one out when they’re talking about criticizing Israel. Sit it out!”
“Maybe you ought to sit this one out!”
A fiery @SenFettermanPA responds to the libelous claims made against @Israel by South Africa at the International Court of Justice.https://t.co/7pKvOr1eKA pic.twitter.com/1I9BJoSAdW— Dovi Safier (@safier) January 11, 2024
Fetterman also spoke of pro-Palestinian demonstrators who have created havoc in American cities, saying, “Protests all around the nation. They’re blocking tunnels; they’re blocking roads. Why? Why aren’t they protesting, ‘When will we get the hostages back home?’ Why aren’t they protesting Hamas? Why aren’t they protesting systemic rape and torture of Israeli woman and children? I will never get it.”
“Hamas is anathema to peace,” he stated. “We’ll never have a stable two-state solution. We will never have any peace for Israel until they are fully eliminated. It is the right for Israel to eliminate them. That right doesn’t come from me or anyone other than from Israel, and not only do they have the right to do that. I encourage them to do that. I hope they do that. Every last one.”
NEW — Fetterman, at @OrthodoxUnion luncheon, on nationwide pro-Palestinian protests:
“Why aren’t they protesting, ‘When will we get the hostages back home?’ Why aren’t they protesting Hamas? Why aren't they protesting systemic rape and torture of Israeli women and children?" pic.twitter.com/kkfzh9nSZj
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) January 10, 2024
Soon after the October 7 Hamas massacre of 1200 Israelis, Fetterman released a statement expressing strong support for Israel and even countered the political Left’s false claims that Israel bombed a hospital inside Gaza when, in reality, the parking lot at the hospital was struck by a rocket that was launched by Palestinian terrorists.
“Innocent Israelis were the victims of a terrorist attack that resulted in the largest loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust,” Fetterman wrote on X. “Now we know that the tragedy at the Gaza hospital was not caused by Israel. I grieve for every innocent person and brave Israeli soldier killed since Hamas started this war.”
“If not for the horrific attacks by Hamas terrorists, thousands of innocent Israelis and Palestinians would still be alive today,” he continued. “Now is not the time to talk about a ceasefire. We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children.”
“Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized,” he concluded. “In the meantime, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to quickly deliver the aid our ally Israel needs.”
After Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI) and Ilhan Omar (MN) promoted accusations from the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry that falsely claimed that Israel killed 500+ people after bombing a hospital inside Gaza, Fetterman wrote, “It’s truly disturbing that Members of Congress rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy in Gaza. Who would take the word of a group that just massacred innocent Israeli civilians over our key ally? I will always stand with Israel and look forward to supporting any military, intelligence, or humanitarian aid to get the job done.”
I will always stand with Israel and look forward to supporting any military, intelligence, or humanitarian aid to get the job done.
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) October 18, 2023