Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., labeled the situation in Gaza a “genocide,” becoming the first Republican in Congress to use the term to describe the humanitarian conditions in the region, according to The New York Times. In a social media post on Monday, July 28, Greene stated it was “truthful and easiest” to acknowledge both the horror of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the “genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza.”
Her comments reflect a growing divide within the Republican Party over how to frame and respond to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
How does Greene’s stance differ from most Republicans?
Greene’s remarks stand in contrast to the majority of Republicans in Congress, who have maintained steadfast support for Israel’s military campaign. Greene not only criticized the Israeli response in Gaza but also pushed for reduced U.S. military aid, including a failed effort earlier this month to strip $500 million from funding for Israel’s Iron Dome system.
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Only six lawmakers supported the measure — two Republicans and four Democrats — including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the only Palestinian American in Congress. Greene had previously led an effort to censure Tlaib in 2023 over pro-Palestinian remarks.
What did Rep. Randy Fine say, and how have others responded?
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., recently appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, drew widespread condemnation for a social media post that read, “Release the hostages. Until then, starve away.” He dismissed reports of starvation in Gaza as “Muslim terror propaganda” and later claimed that “there is no starvation.”
Greene sharply rebuked Fine, calling his remarks “disgraceful” and saying they could inflame antisemitism. The American Jewish Committee also condemned Fine’s comments, stating that using starvation as a tactic was “unacceptable.”
The pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC no longer lists Fine among its endorsed candidates following his controversial remarks, though the group has not publicly commented on the change.
Are other Republicans shifting their tone?
Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, joined Greene in criticizing the humanitarian toll in Gaza. Gooden wrote that standing with Israel must also involve “rejecting the killing and starvation of children in Gaza.”
He called for increased humanitarian aid, stating that addressing the hunger crisis could undermine Hamas’ use of civilians as “pawns” for propaganda purposes.
What else has Fine been criticized for?
Fine has drawn additional backlash for a series of inflammatory social media posts, including a proposal he dubbed the “Thump Thump Act.”
In multiple posts on X, the Florida lawmaker said the bill would allow Americans to “run over” protesters who block roads, explicitly naming “Muslim terrorists,” as well as Black Lives Matter activists, Antifa and unauthorized immigrants. He claimed Florida already had a similar law and called for nationwide expansion.
Critics condemned the rhetoric as inciting violence.
In a separate post, Fine wrote, “When you wonder why I don’t give a shit about Gazans, here is one reason,” in response to a tweet about an Israeli victim of the Oct. 7 attack.
