Democrat Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has continued to break with his party over the position on Israel’s war with Hamas.
During an appearance on MSNBC, Fetterman defended Israel’s strike on the city of Rafah in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Fetterman called civilian deaths “awful” but inevitable given the Hamas presence there.
The freshman senator has emerged as one of the most pro-Israel voices in Washington D.C.
He has frequently broken with the many radical pro-Hamas activists who supported his progressive campaign for Senate.
During the MSNBC panel discussion, Fetterman noted that Hamas uses civilians as human shields.
He said this is creating a difficult situation for the Israeli military.
Dozens of civilians died in a fire at a refugee camp in Rafah last weekend.
It came after an Israeli strike.
The incident has brought new criticism of Israel’s military operation.
Additionally, Biden has also come under fire for his failure to stop supporting it.
Israel has attributed the deaths to a Hamas weapons depot that was in the area.
The Biden administration has said it is withholding judgment until a probe is complete.
Fetterman told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that Hamas terrorists are “cowards” for hiding behind civilians.
However, he noted that the civilian deaths were “tragic” and “heartbreaking.”
“It also is a truth about this war, and that’s what Hamas — Hamas, those cowards hide behind civilians, and now it’s becoming more and more there was a dump of munitions there that exploded,” he said.
“That’s where Hamas is hiding them and that added more damage that way as well.”
Fetterman firmly blamed Hamas for the ongoing suffering, saying the terror group doesn’t care “how many die.”
“But I do believe Israel does try to minimize that, but it’s a very difficult war when they have to wage a war when they have Hamas hiding behind the civilians.”
WATCH:
Fetterman is the best. pic.twitter.com/aCuA3juWnf
— Jewish Lumber King 🇺🇲🌳🇮🇱 (@EzraDrissman) May 29, 2024
The situation in Rafah has become another test for President Biden.
Biden has struggled to balance support for Israel against demands from his progressive base to cut off support for the Jewish State’s so-called “genocide” in Gaza.
Fetterman’s response is a far cry from leftist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Ocasio-Cortez has called the Rafah strike an “indefensible atrocity.”
The Biden admin maintains that, as of now, Israel hasn’t crossed the Democrat president’s so-called “red line” in Rafah.
“Israel, of course, has a right to go after Hamas,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.
“And we understand that this strike did kill two senior Hamas terrorists who are directly responsible for attacks against the Israeli people.”
Much of the Gaza Strip has already been bombed by the Israeli military in its effort to wipe out Hamas.
Israel has called Rafah, home to many refugees, the last bastion of the terror group.
READ MORE – Democrat Sen Fetterman Accuses Biden of Playing ‘Both Sides’ on Israel-Hamas War
