Conservative and members of House GOP leadership criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar
Ilhan OmarOvernight Energy & Environment — Presented by the American Petroleum Institute — Democrats eye potential carbon price in reconciliation bill 'Squad' members call on Biden to shut down Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota Progressives breathe sigh of relief after Afghan withdrawal MORE (D-Minn.) over a tweet in which she lamented the violence in Gaza over the weekend.
"How many more protesters must be shot, rockets must be fired, and little kids must be killed until the endless cycle of violence ends?" Omar tweeted Sunday night, amid a burst of violence over the weekend that left close to two dozen Palestinians and four Israelis dead.
"The status quo of occupation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unsustainable," she continued. "Only real justice can bring about security and lasting peace."
Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza reached a cease-fire on Monday morning, according to multiple reports.
Conservatives seized on Omar's comments to suggest the congresswoman was voicing support for Hamas, a Palestinian group behind hundreds of rockets fired over the weekend.
Rep. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyOvernight Energy & Environment — Effort to repeal Arctic refuge drilling advances McCarthy-allied fundraising group helps Republicans who voted to impeach Trump Democrats must stop using Jan. 6 committee to advance its witch hunt MORE (Wyo.), the No. 3 Republican in the House, tweeted that Omar "is defending Hamas."
"Real question is how many times will @IlhanMN rush to the defense of terrorists?" she tweeted, a message that was retweeted by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise
Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseLouisiana delegation asks for additional relief funding after Ida FEMA has funds to cover disasters — for now Watch live: Scalise holds news conference on Afghanistan MORE (R-La.).
1. Hamas controls Gaza.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 5, 2019
2. Hamas is firing rockets at civilians in Israel. 3. @IlhanMN is defending Hamas. Real question is how many times will @IlhanMN rush to the defense of terrorists? https://t.co/mrKQBz1TDa
Donald Trump Jr.
Don TrumpHow Trump uses fundraising emails to remain undisputed leader of the GOP Donald Trump Jr. joins Cameo Book claims Trump family members were 'inappropriately' close with Secret Service agents MORE called Omar's tweet "deeply troubling" and accused Democratic leaders of "endorsing this insanity" by not rebuking the freshman congresswoman.
It’s deeply troubling that we’ve reached the point where no one is shocked when sitting members of congress, like @IlhanMN & @RashidaTlaib, side with Hamas terrorists over Israel. By remaining silent, democrat leadership & presidential candidates are endorsing this insanity. https://t.co/A8STX8WqLf
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 6, 2019
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley
Nikki HaleyHarris to hold fundraiser for McAuliffe ahead of Virginia governor's race Allies see rising prospect of Trump 2024 White House bid Trump schedules rallies in Iowa, Georgia MORE said she agreed with Omar's tweet, and asked, "What should be done about Hamas?"
Omar later retweeted a message responding to Haley that indicated the congresswoman was referring to "Hamas rockets, not Israeli rockets" in her tweet condemning the violence.
Agreed @IlhanMN so what should be done about Hamas? They are the ones behind all of this. https://t.co/9k5OwzSiiB
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) May 6, 2019
Very interesting that @NikkiHaley - unlike most everyone else on the right - understood that the rockets in @IlhanMN's tweet are Hamas rockets, not Israeli rockets, breaking through the all too human tendency to misread opponents in the most uncharitable way possible. https://t.co/jce8aTj9gI
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) May 6, 2019
Omar's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib
Rashida Harbi Tlaib'Squad' members call on Biden to shut down Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota Progressives hit Manchin after he calls for 'pause' on Biden's .5T plan On The Money — Companies consider making unvaccinated workers pay MORE (D-Mich.) became the first two Muslim women elected to Congress last November. Since then, they have been the subject of intense criticism from conservatives over their views on Israel and pro-Israel American groups.
Omar said she received an increase in death threats after President Trump
Donald TrumpTo infinity and beyond: What will it take to create a diverse and representative judiciary? Biden seeks to rebound from brutal August Mary Trump blasts uncle's plans to provide commentary on boxing match on 9/11 anniversary: 'Disgraceful' MORE tweeted a video that spliced together some of her comments about anti-Muslim sentiment with footage of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
