24 August 2024: In a strong rebuke, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) criticized U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken following his unsuccessful visit to the Middle East, where he failed to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Speaking during a press conference at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Omar labeled Blinken’s failure as a “disgrace” and highlighted the U.S. supply of weapons to Israel as the primary obstacle to ending the conflict.
Omar’s comments come after Blinken’s recent diplomatic mission to Israel, during which he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite multiple attempts, Blinken was unable to finalize a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Speaking to thousands of delegates gathered at the convention, Omar expressed frustration, stating, “Our Secretary of State has visited Israel 11 times, begging for an end to the Gaza war. We have created this situation by supplying bombs and weapons.”
Blinken’s recent trip marked his ninth visit to the Middle East since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023. During his visit, he traveled to Qatar, Egypt, and Israel, but was unable to secure significant progress in ceasefire talks. Although he announced on Monday that Netanyahu had accepted a U.S.-Qatar-Egypt mediated deal, the Israeli administration later denied any agreement, reaffirming their unwillingness to compromise on their demands.
Omar questioned why the U.S. continues to send Blinken on diplomatic missions that consistently result in humiliation.
“Why are we letting our Secretary of State travel to Israel and Egypt, only for Netanyahu to hold a press conference afterwards, rejecting a ceasefire deal? Shouldn’t we be ashamed that our administration faces such disgrace?” Omar asked.
She further condemned the Biden administration’s refusal to acknowledge the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza as genocide. “It is not only hypocritical but degrading to claim we respect international law while continuing to arm Israel,” Omar said. She argued that the U.S. should stop supplying weapons to Israel if it genuinely seeks a ceasefire.
Also speaking at the event, Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) urged her Democratic colleagues to uphold their values. Bush, who recently lost the Democratic primary to Israel-backed Wesley Bell, lamented that over 40,000 men, women, and children in Gaza have been killed by U.S.-manufactured weapons. “Americans have paid for these weapons. Millions in Gaza are starving, and we are funding the relentless bombings,” Bush stated.
