A heated exchange between two sitting members of Congress broke out on the social platform X, with Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine referring to Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar as a “Muslim terrorist.” The controversy began after Rep. Omar – who came to the United States as a Somali refugee in her teens – criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
Israel remains engaged in a war with Hamas that has killed thousands of Palestinians and displaced many from Gaza.
Omar wrote, “This is Benjamin Netanyahu’s third visit to DC this year. War criminals should not be welcomed by any president or Congress. He should be held accountable for his crimes, not platformed. Beyond shameful.”
The accusations against Netanyahu
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, accusing them of war crimes in Gaza, including intentionally starving civilians and targeting noncombatants. Israel has dismissed the charges as false and politically motivated. President Donald Trump has strongly defended Netanyahu, calling him a “war hero” and praising their recent joint military strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
Fine’s response to Omar
In response to Omar’s post, Rep. Fine – who is Jewish and represents Florida’s 6th District – wrote on X, “I’m sure it is difficult to see us welcome the killer of so many of your fellow Muslim terrorists. The only shame is that you serve in Congress.”
History of tension between Fine, Omar and Tlaib
This is not the first time Rep. Fine has targeted Omar or her progressive ally, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Before officially taking office, Fine posted: “The Hebrew Hammer is coming. @RashidaTlaib and @IlhanMN might consider leaving before I get there. #BombsAway.”
Tlaib – the daughter of Palestinian immigrants – has also strongly criticized Netanyahu and called on the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over what she described as a “genocide” in Gaza. In 2023, the House voted to censure her for what they said were remarks advocating for “the destruction of the state of Israel.”
Ongoing friction in Congress
Tensions over the Israel-Hamas war continue to divide lawmakers. In late June, Fine introduced legislation to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization, claiming it has ties to Hamas – a charge CAIR strongly denies.
