As anti-Israel protestors continue to condemn the Israeli Defense Force’s military response to the October 7 terrorist attack that left 1,400 Israelis, Americans, and foreign nationals dead, Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s defense of the Hamas “From the river to the sea” call to arms has been denounced by Jewish-American Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D))
In responds to a social media posting by Rep. Tlaib, where the controversial House “Squad” member says the phrase nothing more than a “aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence,” and not “death, destruction, or hate,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz accused Rep. Tlaib taking part of a “PR” stunt by anti-Israel, anti-Jewish protestors of “dressing” up the call to arms.
“This phrase means eradicating Israel and Jews. Period. Dressing it up in a new PR ploy won’t change that. Only a return of hostages, eliminating Hamas and liberating Gaza from oppressive terror will save civilian lives and secure the peace, justice and dignity you seek,” stated Rep. Wasserman Schultz.
The origins of the phrase are rooted in hate and call for the annihilation of Israel.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was first uttered in December 2012 by then-Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal during a speech to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the forming of terror group.
“The state will come from resistance, not negotiation,” Mashaal said in a fiery speech to thousands of Gazans. “Liberation first, then statehood. Palestine is ours from the river to the sea and from the south to the north. There will be no concession on any inch of the land.”
Mashaal continued his speech, arguing that Hamas would “never recognize the legitimacy” of the state of Israel.
“We will never recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation, and therefore there is no legitimacy for Israel, no matter how long it will take,” he said. “We will free Jerusalem inch by inch, stone by stone. Israel has no right to be in Jerusalem.”
The Hamas Covenant goes further, and calls for a jihad against Israel:
"The day the enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem. In the face of the Jews' usurpation, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised." (Article 15e)
"Ranks will close, fighters joining other fighters, and masses everywhere in the Islamic world will come forward in response to the call of duty, loudly proclaiming: 'Hail to Jihad!'. This cry will reach the heavens and will go on being resounded until liberation is achieved, the invaders vanquished and Allah's victory comes about."
The Anti-Defemation League also addresss the true meaning of the phrase, reiterating the commonly accepted interpretation of it being a “rallying cry.”
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is an antisemitic slogan commonly featured in anti-Israel campaigns and chanted at demonstrations.
This rallying cry has long been used by anti-Israel voices, including supporters of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and the PFLP, which seek Israel’s destruction through violent means. It is fundamentally a call for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that includes the State of Israel, which would mean the dismantling of the Jewish state. It is an antisemitic charge denying the Jewish right to self-determination, including through the removal of Jews from their ancestral homeland,” states the Antidefamation League website.
Fellow Florida House Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz has also condemned Rep. Tlaib’s past antisemitic remarks and spoke out about th e terrorist attack, and has protested Tlaib’s raising of the Palestinian flag outside for Washington, D.C. office by displaying the Israeli flag.
"To see babies killed, children kidnapped, women raped next to their dead spouse, it is just horrific. To see a Holocaust survivor taken as a hostage. The folks in my community are outraged. Jews are never going back to those days, and this is barbaric behavior like we have not seen in Israel for a long time, if not ever," said Rep. Moskowitz. Additionally, he stated that the Israelis would deploy "a significant response" and that the United States will work with them to free hostages taken by Hamas.
