Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida on Thursday used a left-wing group’s attempted gotcha moment as an opportunity to rip the terrorist group Hamas for its violence toward Israel and its use of civilians as shields in an effort to discredit Israel on the world stage.
Members of the liberal feminist group Codepink accosted Rubio outside his Senate office. The Florida Republican first sought to not answer a question about the war between Israel and Hamas, but then decided to lower the boom. Codepink posted the exchange on its account on X (formerly Twitter).
“Are you filming it?” Rubio asked when a Codepink representative raised the issue of the war, adding, “I want you guys to get this.”
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“I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on. These people are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes. I hope you guys post that,” he said.
When a Codepink member asked Rubio about civilian deaths in the war, or whether he cared about the “babies that are getting killed every day,” Rubio made it clear who he believed was at fault.
“I blame Hamas. Hamas should stop hiding behind civilians, putting civilians in the way. Hamas knew that this was gonna lead to this. So, Hamas should stop building their military installations underneath hospitals,” said Rubio.
“I care, I think it’s horrifying. I think it’s terrible, and I think Hamas is 100% to blame,” Rubio said of the children being killed in the war.
“That’s what I think. Make sure you post that, please.”
After Rubio entered his office, outside of which stood an Israeli flag, the unnamed Codepink interrogator seemed offended that Rubio suggested they were Hamas supporters. She then immediately defended Hamas’ murderous Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,200 innocent Israeli civilians.
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She claimed the attack “was preceded by decades of soul crushing oppression against Palestinians,” which was ignored by Rubio and other lawmakers.
“Oppression and despair is what led to October 7th” she said, adding that Israel’s vengeance only makes Palestinains more determined to fight and kill Jews.
“You really need to understand this fact, Senator Rubio,” she added. “There will never be peace in Israel until there is justice for Palestinians. Make sure you post that.”
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