Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) stated that the current pro-Palestinian campus protests are “working against peace in the Middle East.”
Fetterman has been vociferous in his support for Israel, notably claiming that pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses were “pup tents” for the violent group Hamas. On CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, host Margaret Brennan approached Fetterman about the protests, asking if he thought flying the Palestinian flag during the demonstrations was antisemitic.
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“I don’t think so… But I will admit that these types of protests have not been effective. Ironically, they are also fighting against peace in the Middle East,” he added. “And it’s also very strange to me that now they’re not actually protesting for a cease-fire, and there’s been a very valid cease-fire that’s been on the table now.”
“And Hamas has been refused to take that on, and I don’t know why we’re not—if we’re going to protest, why aren’t we protesting that they are demanding Hamas to take that kind of a cease-fire, and then that would end all of that—the trauma and the chaos going on there in Gaza?” he went on to say.
The United States has been advocating for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza in order to secure the release of Hamas’ hostages. Last Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the “time is now” for a cease-fire, urging Hamas to accept Israel’s approach and “compromise.”
Fetterman reiterated Sunday that the battle could stop if Hamas agreed to release all hostages.
“Don’t forget that if Hamas surrendered and returned all of the captives, the situation might end right now.” And that’s also something I’ve been frustrated about lately—that those captives should be at the forefront of discussions about the situation in Gaza,” Fetterman said.
