Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress, was formally censured by the House on Tuesday over her rhetoric on the Israel-Hamas war.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said: "I am the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, and my perspective is needed here now more than ever. I will not be silenced and I will not let anyone distort my words. I’m from Detroit, where I learned to speak truth to power, even if my voice shakes."
I am the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, and my perspective is needed here now more than ever. I will not be silenced and I will not let anyone distort my words.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) November 7, 2023
I’m from Detroit, where I learned to speak truth to power, even if my voice shakes. pic.twitter.com/bXhGPCcKat
US opposes re-occupation of Gaza
The United States has said that it opposed a new long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel as the Israeli military said its forces were now operating "in the heart of Gaza City" one month after Hamas's October 7 attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a stark warning to Hezbollah in Lebanon which, like Hamas, is backed by Iran. "If Hezbollah makes the choice of joining the war it will be making the mistake of its life," he said in a televised statement marking a month of the war.
His defence minister, Yoav Gallant, underlined Israel's determination "to destroy Hamas". "We are in the heart of Gaza City," he told reporters. "Gaza is the largest terrorist base ever built."
Netanyahu also said there would be no fuel delivered to Gaza and no ceasefire in Israel's fighting with Hamas unless the more than 240 hostages seized by the Palestinian militants were freed.