Squad Members Condemn Biden’s Israel Support, Urge Arms Embargo

U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), members of the progressive "Squad," have intensified their criticism of President Joe Biden’s support for Israel, calling for a halt in U.S. arms shipments to the Jewish state. The lawmakers argue that the administration’s approach to the ongoing conflict with Hamas is exacerbating what they describe as a “genocide” in Gaza.

Speaking at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) last week, Omar suggested that the White House should force a ceasefire by blocking further military aid to Israel. In a conversation with progressive journalist Mehdi Hasan, Omar dismissed the administration’s efforts to secure a truce as insufficient, arguing that stopping the flow of U.S. weapons to Israel would be a more effective strategy.

“If you are working tirelessly to end this war, you would start stopping sending them weapons,” Omar stated, pushing back against the narrative that the Biden administration is doing all it can to achieve peace.

Hasan, a vocal critic of Israel, noted that fellow "Squad" member Ocasio-Cortez had praised the administration’s efforts to secure a ceasefire during her speech at the DNC, which sparked backlash from the anti-Israel left. Ocasio-Cortez reiterated her claim that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza, while criticizing both major U.S. political parties for their stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Neither party’s official platform in my opinion is good on Palestine,” Ocasio-Cortez told New York City Council Member Chi Osse at the DNC. However, she argued that a Donald Trump presidency would be “absolutely catastrophic,” accusing him of promoting the continuation of what she views as genocidal policies.

Omar and Ocasio-Cortez have long been outspoken critics of Israel, accusing the country of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and apartheid in the West Bank. Both lawmakers support the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to isolate Israel internationally.

The recent comments from Omar and Ocasio-Cortez have intensified debates within the Democratic Party about the U.S. role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The lawmakers were among the first to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, condemning what they view as Israel’s indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians.

As the conflict continues, the divide within the Democratic Party over U.S. policy toward Israel is likely to grow, with progressives like Omar and Ocasio-Cortez pushing for more drastic measures to pressure Israel.

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