Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) released a statement pointing to the increased uptick in anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiments on social media.
“Anti-Israeli rhetoric has spread like wildfire across social media. It's taken root at elite college campuses and even here in the halls of Congress,” said Sen. Cornyn.
Recently, protestors took to the Capitol building to protest against Israel. However, in their protest, they made anti-Israel statements while confronting officers at the Capitol. In the protests, Capitol officers arrested over 100 protestors.
“This past weekend, we saw the latest chapter in blaming the victim as thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Washington, D.C., to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. They carried signs that said, ‘Free Palestine,’ and ‘Let Gaza live.’ They accused Israel of being an apartheid government and outrageously said the United States was supporting genocide.”
The Texas senator continued, “I find it deeply disturbing to see this view shared by so many because it's completely divorced from reality. These protesters have the entire problem completely backward. Hamas is not a victim. Hamas is the aggressor in every possible sense, along with its state sponsor, Iran. War is not just a battle of brute force – it's also a contest for public opinion.”
On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked Israel killing several Israelis and taking at least 200 people hostage. Hamas has been accused of spreading misinformation on social media about the war.
“Hamas goes to great lengths to shift the narrative and build sympathy. It's not a new strategy but deeply disappointing to see how many Hamas sympathizers are found on American soil,” said Rep. Cornyn about the anti-Israel rhetoric.
“We have a responsibility to call out and correct the falsehood and mischaracterizations that are spreading in our own country. We have a responsibility to do our best to inform the American people about the facts and to make sure they understand who is the aggressor and who is the victim.”
Sen. Cornyn stated that it was the U.S.’s obligation to support Israel and warned against siding with Hamas in the war.
“In the end, I believe, we have a duty to stand with our ally, Israel, as it does what is needed to root out the terrorist threats in its own country.”
