Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey (D) was booed during a solidarity rally for Israel after he called for de-escalation in the Middle East region.
While speaking at the Boston Common on Monday, Markey was met with jeers in the crowd as he called for a “de-escalation of violence.”
“Many of you have family in Israel now and many more have those who have lived through brutal wars to ensure the ongoing survival of the Jewish state—we grieve with you,” he said at the event.
His comments come just days after Hamas militants launched an aggressive and devastating attack on Israel on Saturday, gunning down hundreds of civilians and abducting soldiers and bystanders as hostages.
Israel responded by declaring war and firing back with airstrikes. The escalation of violence has killed at least 1,600 people, according to the Associated Press.
The Massachusetts Democrat appeared to find himself at odds with another member of his delegate during the rally who had an opposing view on the conflict.
Representative Jake Auchincloss, who spoke roughly 15 minutes after the senator, was cheered loudly by the same audience after he declared de-escalation “not possible.”
“De-escalation is not possible when they are taking hostages. Israel did not ask America to de-escalate on September 12, 2001. We stand with Israel,” Auchincloss said.
Watch the clip below:
A spokesperson for the congressman stated that the remarks had been prepared in advance and were not in direct response to Markey’s statements.
Markey and Auchincloss’ differing views are not new. Markey began calling for de-escalation as early as Saturday when the Hamas attacks first seized Israel and began a full-fledged war between both sides, while Auchincloss has called those calls “pre-mature” and urged the U.S. to support Israel amid the latest developments.
“This isn’t a both-sides issue; calls for de-escalation are premature,” Auchincloss said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. “The United States did not de-escalate after Pearl Harbor. Israel requires the military latitude to re-establish deterrence and to root out the nodes of terrorism in Gaza.”
He also told Boston 25 News in a televised appearance, “What [Israel] need[s] from U.S. policymakers is not both-sideism that says, ‘Oh we just need to end the cycle of violence and both sides need to lay down their arms.’
“No,” the congressman continued. “One side launched this attack. One side killed civilians. The other side is trying to restore peace and security and the U.S. needs to be clear that we’re on the side of Israel in this situation.”
On the other hand, a day before Israel officially declared war, Markey said in a Saturday statement, “I condemn this heinous attack on Israel, and am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of civilian life. We must do everything in our power to deescalate violence, engage diplomacy, and avert bloodshed. A war between Israel and Palestine would be catastrophic.”
As long as the USA is involved, the government of Israel is never going to do anything to work toward a peaceful solution in Palestine
The fact is they are occupying land that does not belong to them and their boot squashing on the neck of well over 4 millions Arabs.
Netanyahu solution to this problem is probably the one suggested by his own father’s books, which is the expulsion or extermination of all Arabs living in the lands they call “Greater Israel” which includes Gaza, the West Bank and parts of Jordan.
Jews are entitled to live in peace and prosperity, but all this Zionist BS must stop
Actually, we need to get rid of all religions worldwide! Those religics have been enjoying mass murdering each other for 10,000 years, time for all that mental illness evil to end…
It was never Arab land to begin with.
Boy have you swallowed Islam and apparent watch PBS
You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. The Palestinians could have had a homeland many years ago but the Arab states hate them and will never provide any support for a nation of their own. The tiny piece of land presently making up Israel was ceded to the Jews by God himself. Israel never should have given Gaza away and hopefully they will retake it and kill every single Hamas terrorist presently destroying Gaza. Further, it’s time to liberate Lebanon from Hezbollah and bring the full force of Israeli’s military to bare on Iran itself. Destroy it all and do it now.
Amen and that is the truth. Those saying its religion ARE DEAD WRONG. Its Man and his heart that is deceitfully wicked and yet people stand with satan and those who take on his demeanor
Good Post
Buzz Waldron, theworld will be a better place when you’re dead.
When Buzz finds Christ gets saved understands Christ and then the world will be better. There is no hope for Obama and Biden so I wish that for them both and they can hold hands and take the leap ^5