The New York Times stated that embattled Democratic Missouri Rep. Cori Bush looked unwilling to label Hamas as a terrorist group in the days coming up to an expectedly close primary election.
Bush faces a closely contested primary on Tuesday, as her chances of reelection have dramatically decreased, according to polling.
During a recent trip to Ferguson, Missouri, Bush — who has been vocal in her criticisms of Israel and its military activities in Gaza — stated that she did not want to refer to Hamas as a terrorist organization, despite the fact that the US government and the majority of the West do, according to the New York Times.
“We were called terrorists during Ferguson. Have they hurt people? Absolutely. Has the Israeli military hurt people? Absolutely.” Bush reportedly said at an early voting station in Ferguson.
Bush then reiterated her position while meeting with voters at a cafe in Ferguson, stating that she was hesitant to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization since she was unfamiliar with the matter.
“Would they qualify to me as a terrorist organization? Yes. But do I know that? Absolutely not. I have no communication with them. All I know is that we were considered terrorists, we were considered Black identity extremists and all we were doing was trying to get peace. I’m not trying to compare us, but that taught me to be careful about labeling if I don’t know.” Bush said.
Bush, a progressive member of the Democratic Party and the “Squad,” has been outspoken in her criticism of Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza, as well as her views on the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Bush was one of two House members — the other being Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib — who voted against a resolution in January prohibiting Hamas members from entering the United States.
Bush appears to be on the verge of defeat in Missouri’s Tuesday primary election, as her chief opponent, county prosecutor Wesley Bell, continues to garner support from voters.
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