The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recognition that the Israeli government’s war crimes in Gaza – including the deliberate starvation of civilians – constitutes genocide. CAIR also today called on other Republican elected officials to put America first by acknowledging the genocide and calling for an end to the use of American taxpayer dollars and weapons to support it.
In a recent public statement on the social media platform X, Rep. Greene also condemned fellow Republican Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) for celebrating the starvation of Palestinian civilians—something Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other GOP leaders have thus far refused to address.
In a statement, CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw said:
“Although we have obviously disagreed with some of Rep. Greene’s other policy positions and public rhetoric, we must give credit where credit is due: by recognizing the genocide in Gaza for what it is, acknowledging the humanity of both Palestinians and Israelis, and calling for an end to American support for this horrific war, Rep. Greene has shown more political courage than every other Republican in Congress and many Democrats well.
“It should not take political courage for every member of Congress, Democrat and Republican alike, to condemn the Israeli government’s mass starvation of men, women and children as a war crime and call for an end to U.S. support for that crime. It should not take political courage to call genocide by its name.
“Now that one of the most conservative members of Congress from one of the most conservative districts in America has called for an end to American support for the genocide in Gaza, there is no excuse for House Speaker Johnson, House Minority Leader Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Schumer, or any other Republican or Democratic lawmaker to continue denying the genocide or supporting U.S. funding for this crime.
“The question is simple: who in Congress has the courage to follow?”
CAIR is urging congressional leadership in both chambers and both parties to immediately:
- Condemn Israel’s use of starvation as genocide and a war crime, and declare it a violation of U.S. and international law;
- Demand a permanent and unconditional ceasefire without preconditions;
- End all U.S. weapons transfers and military funding to Israel;
- Take a clear public stance against genocide—no matter the political cost;
- Censure and hold Rep. Fine accountable for celebrating atrocities.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. Thousands more face death from starvation, dehydration, and disease. Gaza’s health care system has collapsed. Children are dying in their parents’ arms. The humanitarian catastrophe is the direct result of a military and political strategy that seeks to destroy Palestinian life—and is being carried out with the support of U.S. weapons and diplomatic protection.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com