US Rep. Jamaal Bowman Pens Op-ed Slamming Netanyahu as ‘Genocidal War Criminal’ in Latest Anti-Israel Invective

US Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) decried Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “genocidal war criminal” ahead of Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday, arguing that American politicians should shun the leader of the Jewish state.

Bowman, one of the most prominent anti-Israel voices in Congress, penned an op-ed for The Guardian, explaining his “outrage” over Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, DC. Bowman, pointing to the casualty count in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, accused the Israeli premier of being a “genocidal fascist.”

“We are at a pivotal moment in our democracy and our society where we have to ask ourselves: how do we want to be represented on the global stage?” Bowman wrote. “What do we stand for as a nation if we are inviting an accused war criminal to address a joint session of Congress as he inflicts collective punishment on hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children? Platforming a war criminal should not be our answer.”

Bowman continued, lambasting the Israeli military for allegedly executing a “bombing campaign” in Gaza that has killed many Palestinians and left civilians “afraid for the safety” of their families. The congressman also suggested that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has intentionally killed not only Palestinians but also Israeli civilians.

“I am disgusted that we are allowing the man who is responsible for ripping families apart and killing Israeli and Palestinian civilians to be given a platform before Congress to try and win support and funding for his indiscriminate bombing campaign,” Bowman wrote.

Israel says it has gone to unprecedented lengths to try and avoid civilian casualties, noting its efforts to evacuate areas before it targets them and to warn residents of impending military operations with leaflets, text messages, and other forms of communication. However, Hamas, which rules Gaza, has in many cases prevented people from leaving, according to the IDF.

Another challenge for Israel is Hamas’ widely recognized military strategy of embedding its terrorists within Gaza’s civilian population and commandeering civilian facilities like hospitals, schools, and mosques to run operations and direct attacks.

Still, Bowman wrote that “in Israel, thousands of people are protesting against Netanyahu’s handling of the war, which is further putting hostages held in Gaza at risk. They are calling for a ceasefire and negotiations between Israel and Hamas to protect the safety of innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza.”

Bowman urged Congress not to “ignore the will of the people” and push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The congressman also called for a “paradigm shift” in how the public discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

“We need a permanent ceasefire and release of the hostages. We need a world where people understand that criticism of a state or a leader does not make you antisemitic. We need a paradigm shift on how we approach the issue of Israel and Palestine,” the congressman said. 

In the months following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel that launched the ongoing war in Gaza, Bowman has positioned himself as one of the most vocal opponents of the Jewish state among US lawmakers.

Bowman has repeatedly claimed that Israel’s defensive military efforts in Gaza are tantamount to a “genocide.” He has also argued that the US-Israel relationship is rooted in a commitment to “white supremacy” and “white nationalism” and dismissed reports that Israeli women were raped on Oct. 7 as “propaganda.”

In an effort to court support among the far-left progressives, Bowman agreed to vote against future funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. The congressman also agreed to publicly support the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement (BDS), which seeks to isolate Israel from the international community as a step toward the Jewish state’s eventual elimination.

Bowman’s rhetoric toward Israel incensed many Jewish and pro-Israel voters in the leafy suburbs of Westchester, New York, ultimately dooming his congressional reelection campaign. Mondaire Jones (D-NY), a fellow progressive lawmaker, opted to endorse Bowman’s opponent George Latimer, citing the congressman’s position on Israel as a key reason. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobbying group, spent nearly $15 million to unseat Bowman. 

Bowman attempted to salvage his ill-fated campaign by holding rallies with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT). These last-ditch efforts failed to move the needle among voters, however. Latimer won the June 25 primary by a commanding margin of 58 percent to 42 percent.