WASHINGTON (TNND) — While Palestinians and Israelis alike have taken to the streets in celebration of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas; the fiercest Democratic lawmakers who have spoken out against Israel and Trump’s approach to the Gaza War have remained silent.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) have yet to publicly acknowledge the ceasefire deal brokered by President Donald Trump.
Both Tlaib and Cortez have long been critical of Israel’s part in the Gaza War. On a House floor speech in March 2024, Cortez accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Tlaib has parroted the same claims against Israel as well. All three of them have been highly critical of Trump for providing military aid to Israel. In September, Cortez endorsed legislation which would prohibit the U.S. government from sending weapons to the Jewish state. She accused the United States government of being an accomplish as Israel has “massacred civilians indiscriminately, destroyed nearly every hospital, and forced all of Gaza into starvation.”
“The children of Gaza are starving to death because Donald Trump will also not stand up to Benjamin Netanyahu,” Cortez said in the September press release. “It is time for us to fight for a free Palestine, the release of the hostages, and a diplomatic solution to end the cycle of violence. ”
And now with the remaining 48 hostages — 20 of which are still alive — as well as the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners expected to be released by Monday, Cortez has instead focused her efforts on the ongoing government shutdown.
Just ten days after the Gaza War started on October 7, 2023, Tlaib has called for a ceasefire. Tlaib lit into then President Joe Biden in response to 500 Palestinians reportedly killed after Israel bombed a hospital.
“@POTUS [Biden] this is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate,” Tlaib wrote. “Your war and destruction only approach has opened my eyes and many Palestinian Americans and Muslims Americans like me. We will remember where you stood.”
In February, she accused Trump of openly calling for ethnic cleansing in response to his suggestion that the U.S. would take over the Gaza strip.
The National News Desk reached out to the White House for comment.
“Palestinians aren’t going anywhere,” Tlaib wrote on X. “This president can only spew this fanatical bulls because of bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing. It’s time for my two-state solution colleagues to speak up.”
While Tlaib and Cortez have yet to comment on Trump’s role in brokering a peace deal between Israel and Hamas; other Democrats who have shared their sentiments about Israel and Trump have acknowledged the historic moment, but stopped short of giving credit to Trump.
“Immediately after October 7, I called for a ceasefire and for a path that honors our shared humanity. It is unfortunate that it took this long,” Rep. Delia Ramirez (D -IL) posted on X. “However, I am hopeful that today’s ceasefire agreement will bring the hostages and prisoners home and end the bombing and starvation of the Palestinian people.”
Meanwhile Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called the news a “hopeful step.”
“For the sake of humanity, let’s hope this will be a lasting and permanent ceasefire,” Omar wrote on X. “While this is a hopeful step, we must demand accountability for every war crime committed during this genocide and continue to call for an end to the occupation.”
The National News Desk reached out to the White House for comment.
