Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota and a prominent member of the progressive “Squad,” recently expressed her concerns directly to President Biden regarding his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a conversation highlighted during an interview with CBS Minnesota anchor Esme Murphy, Omar emphasized the pivotal role of Muslim and young voters in Biden’s election, who she says are currently disillusioned, particularly about the conflict’s impact on civilians.
During the interview, Murphy inquired about Omar’s stance on the so-called “abandon Biden” movement and whether she would support the president in the upcoming 2024 election. Omar responded by recounting her recent dialogue with President Biden. She reminded him of the crucial support he received from Muslim and young voters and stressed the importance of listening to these groups, who are deeply affected by the ongoing conflict and the disturbing images emerging from it.
Omar has been openly critical of the Biden administration’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a past statement made on Capitol Hill, she questioned why President Biden had not taken more decisive action to assist Americans in Gaza, expressing frustration and confusion over his approach.
In the CBS interview, when asked about her support for Biden’s handling of the war, Omar expressed her distress over the high casualty rates, particularly among women and children, and called for a change in the U.S. government’s policy regarding the provision of military support in the conflict.
She also expressed hope that President Biden would heed the calls from over 60 members of Congress who have joined her in advocating for a ceasefire and a lasting solution to the conflict. Omar emphasized that the current situation leads to ongoing casualties and perpetuates the occupation, making the region unsafe.
In a related note, Squad Democrats, including Omar, recently voted against a resolution condemning an October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. The resolution, H.R. 771, which passed with strong bipartisan support, reaffirms America’s backing of Israel in response to the attack. The ten members who voted against this resolution included Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee, and Cori Bush, alongside Omar.