Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) criticized the Biden administration for vetoing a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. She made the comments as fighting intensified and word that some of the Hamas fighters surrendered to the Israel Defense Force (IDF).
The United States ambassador to the United Nations vetoed a United Nations resolution which called for a ceasefire in the fighting.
Following the vote in the U.N. Security Council, Ocasio-Cortez called for an end to the United States’ support of the “indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.”
The representative wrote on social media that the Biden administration could “no longer reconcile their professed concern for Palestinians and human rights while also single-handedly vetoing the U.N.’s call for ceasefire and sidestepping the entire U.S. Congress to unconditionally back the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.”
Israel has reported over the last week that hundreds of Hamas fighters have surrendered to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the surrenders were a sign that it was the “beginning of the end” for the Hamas terrorist group.
Leaked footage from the northern Gaza Strip today shows an apparent Hamas operative slowly placing an assault rifle on the ground, as dozens of Palestinian men surrendered to IDF troops. pic.twitter.com/glEbGBj50i
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) December 9, 2023
In recent days dozens of Hamas terrorists have been surrendering to our forces,” Netanyahu said. “They are laying down their weapons and handing themselves over to our heroic fighters.”
The prime minister said that the “war is in full swing” and made a direct message to Hamas militants, saying that “it is over.” He called upon the fighters to surrender.
Video and photo footage showed at least two significant groups of Hamas fighters surrendering to the Israeli forces just over two months into the current war.
The exact number of fighters who surrendered has not been announced, but an Israeli government spokesperson said that “increasing numbers” were laying down their arms.
Ocasio-Cortez is one of 61 members of Congress who have called for a ceasefire. Almost all of the members are Democrats, including other members of the “Squad.” This includes Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who was recently censured by the House of Representatives for spreading antisemitic material on social media.
