US House votes to censure Rashida Tlaib over Israel-Hamas war comments

The United States House of Representatives has voted to censure Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, over her comments on the Israel-Hamas war.

The House voted 234 to 188 on Tuesday night to censure the three-term Democratic congresswoman from Michigan.

Some 22 members of her own party joined the Republicans in backing a resolution that claimed Tlaib had been “promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel”.

The punishment is one step below expulsion and follows a failed censure resolution last week.

More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza a month ago after the armed group Hamas killed at least 1,400 people and took more than 200 captive in an attack on Israel.

The US, long Israel’s most fervent supporter, has resisted calls for a ceasefire, despite growing global anger over the humanitarian crisis in the densely-populated territory of 2.3 million people.

While criticising the Israeli response and US support for it, Tlaib has also repeatedly condemned Hamas’s assault.

Ahead of the vote, defended her position saying she would “not be silenced” or allow her words to be distorted.