Do NOT “both sides” this’: Nancy Pelosi’s daughter slams ‘Squad’ Democrat congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s call for ‘balanced’ condemnation of Hamas rapes to shocked CNN host

Nancy Pelosi’s daughter has joined in condemning Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal after she made comments Sunday calling for a “balanced” approach to criticizing Hamas for raping Israeli women.

“Don’t downplay, sorry, ‘balanced’ or ‘both sides’ sexual assault is the victim blaming we have spent decades trying to remove from the laws, the courts, and the hearts and minds of the people,” Chris Pelosi tweeted Sunday. in the afternoon, the clear insult was directed at Jayapal.

Prominent TV commentator and Democratic lawyer Dave Aronberg responded to Jayapal, writing: “When you tie yourself in knots defending rapists, you lose your moral authority #RapeIsNotResistance.”

And CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga wrote on X: “Isolated acts of rape due to lack of discipline, which unfortunately happen in war, are different from the ‘biased and premeditated’ rapes that one leading expert told me was a Hamas plan.” .

Jayapal made the offensive comments during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Dana Bash, prompting a strong response from the host herself.

Bash pushed Jayapal to denounce Hamas’s barbaric use of sexual violence against Israeli women during the October 7 massacre.

Jayapal, a Washington state representative and member of the so-called “Squad,” said she had previously spoken out against Hamas’s brutal crimes against women before returning to the conversation against Israel.

Since the events of October 7, progressive women and women’s rights groups have been questioned for failing to unequivocally condemn Hamas’s use of rape as a weapon of war.

Bash addressed the congressman: “I want to ask you about sexual violence, and it’s surprising that this issue doesn’t get enough attention around the world. Widespread Hamas rape, brutal rape and sexual violence against Israeli women.

‘I have seen many progressive women who are generally quick to defend women’s rights and speak out against the use of rape as a weapon of war, but are completely silent about what we saw on October 7th. What could happen? inside Gaza right now to these hostages. Why is this?’

Jayapal responded: “I’m not sure that’s true. I think we always talk about the impact of war on women in particular,” insisting that she specifically condemned the actions of Hamas terrorists.

“But I think we have to remember that Israel is a democracy. That’s why they are our strong ally,” Jayapal continued.

She later added: “Terrorist organizations like Hamas obviously use them as tools. However, I think we need to be thoughtful about violence against Palestinians. Fifteen thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, three quarters of whom are women and children.”

Many members of the media saw Jayapal’s segment with Bash and voiced their criticism of the progressive lawmaker’s lukewarm stance on terrorists using rape as a weapon of war.

Fox News Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov called Jayapal’s position “over the top,” adding that any primary challenge she faces will be well deserved.

GOP defector and former presidential candidate Joe Walsh wrote: “I have always assumed that EVERYONE believes that raping women, engaging in sexual assault of women, and sexually torturing girls as young as 13 is unequivocally bad, wrong, and evil. PERIOD. NO IF, AND or BUT.”

‘I didn’t realize until October 7 that for @RepJayapal and many other leftists there is an exception to this rule when it comes to the rape and sexual torture of JEWISH women and girls.”

Jayapal’s PR team appears to have realized at some point that the legislator’s comments put her in a serious situation, because this afternoon her official account X published an excerpt from an interview specifying that the politician believes that “Hamas is a terrorist organization that must be destroyed.”

“The way to do this is to build a strong and durable coalition of allies in the Middle East that will secure a Palestinian state while providing security to both Israelis and Palestinians in the region.”

In October, Jayapal voted to “presence” a House resolution supporting Israel following Hamas attacks.

She was previously forced to apologize after facing backlash for calling the Israeli government “racist”.

In response to her comments on Sunday, Bash criticized Jayapal for her failure to stay on topic when discussing Hamas sex crimes.

“With all due respect, I was just asking about women, and you gave it back to Israel. I’m asking you about Hamas,” Bash said.

“I already answered your question, Dana,” the representative replied. “I said it was terrible, and I think rape is terrible. Sexual violence is terrible. I think this happens in military situations.”

“But you won’t see Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women,” Bash said.

“I don’t want this to be a hierarchy of oppression,” the congresswoman said. “This is not the way we are going to defeat terrorism.”

Progressive women’s rights organizations around the world, including those leading the #MeToo movement and most recently UN Women, have come under fire for failing to loudly condemn Hamas’ use of mass rape.

Just last week, almost two months after the horrific attack on October 7, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that the organization would investigate Hamas’ use of sexual violence against Israeli women.

“There are numerous reports of sexual violence during Hamas’s abhorrent terrorist attacks on October 7, which must be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice,” he said.

“Gender-based violence must be condemned. Any time. Anywhere.’

UN Women has previously failed to take a stand on Hamas’ use of rape against Israeli women.