Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said the current pro-Palestine campus protests are “working against peace in the Middle East.”
Fetterman has been outspoken about his support for Israel, recently saying that pro-Palestinian camps on college campuses were “dog tents” for the militant group Hamas. Host Margaret Brennan asked Fetterman on CBS’ “Face the Nation” about Sunday’s protests, asking him if he considers flying the Palestinian flag during the demonstrations to be anti-Semitic.
“No, I don’t think that, but I will. I will say that these types of protests have not been helpful. And, ironically, they are also working against peace in the Middle East,” he said. “And it’s also very strange to me that now they’re not actually protesting for a ceasefire, and that there has been a very valid ceasefire that’s on the table now.”
“And Hamas has been refused to take that on and I don’t know why we don’t – if we’re going to protest, why don’t we protest because they’re demanding that Hamas take on this kind of ceasefire and then that? That would end all the trauma. and the chaos that is happening there in Gaza?” he added.
The US has been pushing for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that “now is the time” for a ceasefire, saying it was up to Hamas to agree to Israel’s proposal and “commit.”
Fetterman continued to emphasize on Sunday that the war could end if Hamas agreed to release all hostages.
“I can’t forget that the situation right now could end right now, if Hamas would just surrender and send all those hostages home again. And that’s also why I’m frustrated right now, that these hostages should really be at the forefront of conversations about situation in Gaza,” Fetterman added.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
