Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) called for Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) to retract viral remarks she made Friday on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The congresswoman criticized the Biden administration’s support for Israel in the war, saying the president is “supporting the genocide of the Palestinian people.” Tlaib has received criticism since making the comments, including from Nessel, who posted online calling for her to retract her statements.
“I have supported and defended you countless times, even when you have said the indefensible, because I believe you to be a good person whose heart was in the right place,” Nessel posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“But this is so hurtful to so many. Please retract his cruel and hateful remark,” Nessel continued.
Tlaib’s post on Friday called for a cease-fire and was a message for Biden that a “majority of Americans” disagree with his support for Israel.
“From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate,” Tlaib posted. “My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity.”
Nessel’s comment was in regards to a post from Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Mich.) which responded to Tlaib’s statement and called out the representative for misusing the phrase “from the river to the sea.” Moss claimed the militant group Hamas uses the phrase as a rallying cry.
“They don’t simply want to displace Jews in Israel. They want Jews dead,” he posted on X.
Presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also jabbed Tlaib for her comment. He called for the Michigan Congresswoman to be expelled from Congress for her comments.
Tlaib survived an attempted censure vote over similar comments that were critical of the Israeli government. Twenty-three Republicans joined Democrats in voting down the measure this week.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) pledged to reintroduce the measure to censure Tlaib after her comments Saturday, calling the Michigan Democrat a terrorist for her comments asking for a “peaceful coexistence” between Palestinians and Israelis.
The Biden administration has backed Israel in its war against Hamas, including pledging billions in aid. More recently, the administration has asked for a “humanitarian pause” in order to protect civilians stuck in Gaza.
Tlaib has been one of the few – and loudest – members of Congress that has called for a ceasefire.