New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman was forced to walk back his claim that reports of Hamas’ atrocities against Israelis were nothing but “propaganda.”
Newsmax reported on Tuesday that Bowman, a New York Democrat best known for pulling a fire alarm to delay a vote on a House spending bill last fall, was cornered with his own words that Israel made up reports of rapes and other violent attacks from the Oct. 7 massacre.
“There was propaganda used at the beginning of the siege,” Bowman told a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters, according to a video of a speech he gave in mid-November, roughly six weeks after the violence that killed more than 1,200 Jews, including at least 32 Americans.
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“There’s still no evidence of beheaded babies or raped women, but they still keep using that lie.”
Newsmax noted that Bowman’s ridiculing of Israel’s reports was widely known until a Politico reporter asked about the comments on Thursday.
Bowman initially ducked questions about his remarks, telling Politico that he was “focused on my votes and other things.”
In a statement issued later, he said, “The UN confirmed that Hamas committed rape and sexual violence, a reprehensible fact that I condemn entirely.
“I also voted yes on Resolution 966, which officially condemns the rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas. So let me be clear and ensure my words are not twisted: I always stand against sexual violence in all forms and stand for peace for all,” he said in the statement.
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Newsmax noted that in that same November video, Bowman declared Israel an “apartheid state,” which, he added, is a “war crime.”
Newsmax also reported that Bowman made these comments just three days after House lawmakers were shown a 40-minute video of Hamas’ atrocities against Israelis.
It’s unclear if Bowman saw the video.
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