Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) characterized Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza as few Republicans have: as genocide.
In her criticism of Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), who said Gazans should “starve away,” Greene let loose on Israel and its actions in the Gaza Strip.
“It’s the most truthful and easiest thing to say that Oct 7th in Israel was horrific and all hostages must be returned,” Greene said in a post on X, “but so is the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza.”
Greene is the first congressional Republican to call the crisis in Gaza a genocide, according to the New York Times. A handful of Democratic lawmakers, such as Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), have labeled the conflict a genocide for months.
Greene’s break with the rest of her party follows her actions against Israeli defense. Earlier this month, she attempted to block $500 million in Israeli missile aid, but it failed overwhelmingly in a 422-6 vote. The Georgia Republican has embraced an “America First” anti-interventionist foreign policy stance.
Fine’s controversial statement, which earned him condemnation from the American Jewish Committee and indirectly from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which denied reports that it had dropped its endorsement of the congressman, prompted Greene’s words.
“Release the hostages,” he said in a post on X last week. “Until then, starve away. (This is all a lie anyway. It amazes me that the media continues to regurgitate Muslim terror propaganda).”
The American Jewish Committee called his suggestion to let Gazans starve “unacceptable.”
“The serious humanitarian situation in Gaza must not be taken lightly, especially by those at the highest levels of government,” the American Jewish Committee posted on X.
“Implying that starvation is a legitimate tactic is unacceptable,” the group added. “All those in need of humanitarian aid should receive it promptly and safely. Our leaders must focus less on scoring political points and more on doing their jobs.”
Greene first slammed Fine’s actions before he ran for Congress, repeating that he said he could not wait to live in Washington and that he was adamant that he did not want to live in his district.
“And I thought, no wonder that district doesn’t want to elect him,” she said.
“I can only imagine how Florida’s 6th district feels now that their Representative, that they were told to vote for, openly calls for starving innocent people and children,” she added.
She concluded her statement by saying his call for the starvation to endure in Gaza is “disgraceful” and will “actually cause more antisemitism.”
Greene joins other lawmakers who have grown increasingly critical of Israel. Democratic strategist Max Burns told the Washington Examiner that Greene is using her eyes to describe what she sees in Gaza.
“I think it’s important we see what is in front of us and vocalize what we see,” he said. “MTG is doing that, as are many others now.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Gazans were not starving.
President Donald Trump disagrees with him. “Based on television, I would say not particularly,” Trump said after being asked whether he agrees with Netanyahu that there is no starvation in Gaza, “because those children look very hungry.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Greene’s office for clarification on her comment but did not receive a response.