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Pramila Jayapal under fire after calling for ‘balanced’ outrage in response to question on Hamas' rapes

Pramila Jayapal denounced the sexual assaults perpetrated by Hamas militants but also pointed out that Israel has killed 15,000 Palestinians

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) has come under fire for her plea for "balanced" criticism of the Israel-Hamas war in response to questions concerning progressives' purported lack of response to Hamas militants raping Israeli women.

The 58-year-old chair of the progressive caucus appeared on CNN’s 'State of the Union', where she denounced the sexual assault of Israeli women by Hamas militants but also pointed out that Israel has killed 15,000 Palestinians.

During the interview, CNN host Dana Bash observed that progressive women have mostly kept quiet about the horrifying sexual assaults that Hamas carried out during its lethal invasion on October 7.

In response, Jayapal stated that she didn't believe Bash’s accusations were entirely correct. “I think we always talk about the impact of war on women in particular… I’ve condemned what Hamas has done. I’ve condemned the actions absolutely — the rape, of course,” she said.

Jayapal then again turned the subject back to Israel and accusations that it had not been abiding by international humanitarian law.

“Morally, I think we cannot say that one war crime deserves another. That is not what international humanitarian law says,” Jayapal said, according to NY Post.

Things turn heated between Bash and Jayapal

The interview took a heated turn after Bash pushed back at Jayapal’s attempts to divert the discussion from Hamas' rapes. “With respect, I was just asking you about the women and you turned it back to Israel. I’m asking you about Hamas,” Bash pushed.

“I already answered your question, Dana,” Jayapal retorted in a combative manner. “I said it’s horrific and I think that rape is horrific. Sexual assault is horrific. I think that it happens in war situations, terrorist organizations like Hamas, obviously are using these as tools,” she added.

"But I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians,” she said, pointing out the enormous death toll in Gaza.

Bash then chimed in, calling attention to the "horrible" mass fatalities and bringing up the rapes of Israeli women by Hamas militants.

“Well, Dana… I don’t want this to be the hierarchy of oppression,” Jayapal declared before going on to detail the Palestinian deaths, damage, and displacement brought on by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Internet reacts to Pramila Jayapal’s remarks

Jayapal’s remarks have garnered immense social media attention, with users slamming her for calling for a "balanced" criticism of the Israel-Hamas war.

“There's no moral equivalence between the atrocities Hamas committed and Israel's right to stop it. That's nonsense. Good for Dana Bash for ending with that statement,” one user said.

“So rape is ok as long as it is happening to Israelis. I'm starting to realize how much antisemitism is hiding within the Left,” another wrote.

“I get what Jayapal was trying to get at but it’s giving “all lives matter vibes.” She could have just said “rape is wrong no matter who does it,” the third user asserted.

“She parrots Hamas numbers of 15,000. She can't condemn without a but…” another pointed out while someone else stated, “The whole ultra progressives, members of the “squad” are fast talkers but substantively they fall short all the time.”

“I'm hearing Rep Jayapal saying Hamas is different from everyday Palestinians,” a user said.