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Ilhan Omar accuses Israel of 'terrorism' after Gaza air strikes, Internet says 'how long will they suffer'

This attack came after Palestinian terror group, Hamas, reportedly launched a massive barrage of rockets towards Israel

Israeli forces launched retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Monday, May 10 resulting in the death of at least 20 people. This attack came after Palestinian terror group, Hamas, reportedly launched a massive barrage of rockets towards Israel. Following deadly airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Rep Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. has now accused Israel of "terrorism." 

"Israeli air strikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism. Palestinians deserve protection. Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians. It’s unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid," Omar wrote on Twitter on Monday, May 10. Omar advocated for Palestinians after Israeli police and Palestinians clashed Friday, May 7 at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a major holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem. The Hamas terror group had allegedly fired seven projectiles toward Jerusalem, causing the retaliatory airstrikes by Israeli Defence Forces. The Israeli Military said that at least 11 out of the 20 killed in the strikes were members of Hamas who had launched rockets at Israel.

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The recent confrontation was the latest after weeks of mounting tensions between Palestinians and Israeli troops in the Old City of Jerusalem, the emotional center of their conflict. The clashes have come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, already a time of heightened religious sensitivities. Following Omar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and other members of the progressive so-called "Squad" also slammed the airstrikes. Some of Tlaib's statements were even targeted at President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, questioning the White House's reasoning for providing aid to Israel.

"I was 7 years old when I first prayed at the Al Aqsa with my sity [sic]. It's a sacred site for Muslims. This is equivalent to attacking the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, or the Temple Mount for Jews. Israel attacks it during Ramadan. Where's the outrage @POTUS?" Tlaib said on Twitter.

"American taxpayer money is being used to commit human rights violations. Congress must condition the aid we send to Israel, and end it altogether if those conditions are not followed. Statements aren't working @SecBlinken. Enough is enough," she added in a separate tweet.

Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. Omar took a stand in a similar vein. "This is happening as Muslims pray tarawih [and] tahajud in Palestine. Families who pray all night during Ramadan, the mosque is like home. Palestinians deserve to find refuge in a mosque and peace in Ramadan. Where is the media coverage? [Speak] up against Israeli occupation terror," Omar tweeted on Saturday, May 8, along with a video of the violence.

Omar also accused Israel of "racial cleansing," citing a New York Times report on Arabs being evicted from East Jerusalem. "This deputy mayor is describing ethnic cleansing here, yet everyone is the West is pretending that’s not what’s happening to Palestinians. It’s reprehensible," Omar wrote on Twitter on Sunday, May 9.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, more than 305 Palestinians were injured on Monday, May 10 with 228 of them seeking care in hospitals and clinics. Seven of those who were hurt were in critical condition, Fox News reported. According to police, 21 officers were injured, with three of them requiring hospitalization.

'Palestine not ethnic issue, but of universal concern'

Twitter users shared their views. "You don’t have to be Palestinian or Muslim to speak up on what’s happening in Sheikh Jarrah or Gaza. Palestine isn’t an ethnic or a religious issue - it’s one of humanitarian and universal concern," said one. "1. Israeli state & Zionist settlers try to evict Palestinians from #SheikhJarrah. 2. Palestinians resist. 3. Israeli troops brutally crack down, entering al-Aqsa during Ramzan. 4. Palestinians fire rockets in retaliation. 5. Israel bombs Gaza. US only condemns Palestinians. F**k," another added.

'Attack on Israel is an attack on the US'

"Thinking of Gaza tonight, the largest open air prison in the world. How long will they suffer while the world watches?" a Twitter user said. "Remember folks, history always begins anew when the first little rocket is fired from Gaza. Pro-apartheid political grifters like Torres always seize the opportunity to show outright contempt for Palestinian lives in favor of pushing more weapons & military aid to the occupiers," said another. "An attack on Israel is an attack on the United States. Our nation should stand shoulder to shoulder with our greatest ally in the world as it is indiscriminately targeted by Hamas terrorists launching rockets at innocent civilians," a third added.