Ryan Grim Says Outrage at Jayapal’s Remarks Shows ‘How Warped This Has Gotten’ When It Comes to Discussions About Israel

Intercept Washington Bureau Chief Ryan Grim said the outrage at Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) demonstrates that discussion about the Israel-Hamas war has become “warped.”

On Sunday, Jayapal was asked by CNN’s Dana Bash about the rapes committed by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel. Jayapal condemned the atrocities and also criticized the Israeli government for its ongoing military campaign in Hamas-controlled Gaza. Some 15,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, many of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Bash did not seem to appreciate the direction Jayapal took the conversation, chiding her for having “turned it back to Israel”:

BASH: I’ve seen a lot of Progressive women. Generally speaking, they’re quick to defend women’s rights and to speak out against using rape as a weapon of war, but downright silent on what we saw on October 7th and what might be happening inside Gaza right now to these hostages.”

JAYAPAL: I don’t know that that’s true. I think we always talk about the impact of war on women in particular. In fact, I remember 20 years ago, I did a petition around the war in Iraq saying–

BASH: Have you talked about it since then?

JAYAPAL: Absolutely. And I’ve condemned what Hamas has done. I’ve condemned–

BASH: Specifically against women?

JAYAPAL: Absolutely. The rape? Of course. But I think we have to remember that Israel is a democracy. That is why they are a strong ally of ours, and if they do not comply with international humanitarian law, they are bringing themselves to a place that makes it much more difficult strategically for them to be able to build the kinds of allies, to keep public opinion with them, and frankly, morally, I think we cannot say that one war crime deserves another. That is not what international humanitarian law says.

BASH: Ok, with respect, I was just asking about the women and you turned it back to Israel. I’m asking you about Hamas. In fact–

JAYAPAL: I already answered your question, Dana. I said it’s horrific, and I think that rape is horrific, sexual assault is horrific. I think that it happens in war situations – terrorist organizations like Hamas obviously are using these as tools. However, I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians. Fifteen thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes – three-quarters of whom are women and children.

BASH: And it’s horrible, but you don’t see Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women.

JAYAPAL: Well, Dana, I don’t want this to be the hierarchy of oppressions. I think 15,000 people have been killed. Palestinians.

BASH: Which is horrible.

Jayapal has been pilloried in response.

Appearing on Tuesday’s OutFront, Erin Burnett noted to Grim that Jayapal’s office had issued another statement to reiterate the lawmaker’s opposition to sexual violence.

“That statement that she’s now put out may indicate she’s under quite a bit of pressure and it may put her at odds with the most progressive members of her party, which is a crucial part of your book about The Squad, where you say 2024 could be a do or die moment for their political futures,” Burnett said. “Why is this such a crucial moment?”

Grim responded:

Well, I think this will be one of the key moments that we look back on, you know, years from now and say, “Remember when Representative Pramila Jayapal – the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus – was made to put out multiple statements reaffirming the fact that she condemns sexual violence?”

I think that will be a window into how warped this has gotten. Like I said, December 5th – we’re talking about October 7th. And what has happened between October 7th and December 5th is, I think, what history is really going to remember from this time, and we’ll look at moments like this as ways that it was rationalized and allowed to continue.

Grim went on to say he does not believe Jayapal will face backlash from her fellow Squad members such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), or Jamaal Bowman (D-NY). He further noted a report saying that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee may spend $100 million to try to oust members of The Squad.

Watch above via CNN.