Far-left 'Squad' member Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., recently refrained from explicitly labeling the terrorist organization Hamas as such in a recent interview, citing caution in assigning such designations without full knowledge.
Bush acknowledged that Hamas could be considered a terrorist organization to her, but emphasized that she lacked definitive information on the matter. She drew parallels to her own experiences during racial injustice protests in Ferguson, Missouri, where she and others were unjustly labeled as terrorists despite advocating for peace.
In a competitive primary race against Wesley Bell, who presents himself as a more moderate pro-Israel candidate, Bush's stance on Israel and the Palestinian cause has come under scrutiny. While she, like other 'Squad' members, is critical of Israel and sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, she stopped short of unequivocally condemning Hamas, the group responsible for a deadly terrorist attack in Israel.
Bush's reluctance to label Hamas as a terrorist organization contrasts with her opponent Bell, who has garnered support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and positioned himself as a pro-Israel alternative to Bush's progressive stance.
Despite her initial comments, a spokeswoman for Bush clarified that the congresswoman recognizes Hamas as a terrorist organization. This clarification followed Bush's vote against legislation that sought to ban members of Hamas from entering the U.S.
Bush's progressive allies, including Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., have rallied behind her as she faces a tough primary challenge. Bowman, who faced criticism from AIPAC in his own race, has accused the organization of misleading voters through significant financial backing.
Bush, who was first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2022, continues to navigate the complexities of her progressive platform and the challenges posed by her opponents in the upcoming primary election.
