Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” Thursday during fiery remarks that became more controversial when a Capitol Hill staffer used an umbrella to obstruct a Fox News cameraman who was covering the exchange. filming was.
The unidentified assistant is seen in a video of the encounter repeatedly opening and closing his umbrella. The action disrupts the camera image and at one point the umbrella appears to make contact with the operator, who, according to witnesses, was hit in the face and upper body.
The interaction occurred when Fox News Channel senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram asked Tlaib whether Netanyahu might be asked to address members of Congress. The prospects for such an invitation have accelerated in the wake of the International Criminal Court's recent decision to issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, who has overseen Israel's war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The ICC's move has drawn ire from both sides, although Tlaib has been a consistent critic of Netanyahu.
“What happens if Netanyahu comes to speak?” Pergram asks Tlaib in the video as the employee opens the umbrella, blocking the camera's view and forcing Pergram to move.
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The incident was caught on film and occurred when Fox News Channel senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram asked Tlaib about Netanyahu's prospects speaking to members of Congress. (Fox News)
“Ms. Tlaib, what happens when Netanyahu comes to speak? Is it a mistake for the speaker to expand this request?” Pergram continues.
The staffer is then seen closing the umbrella as Pergram asks Tlaib, “Would you attend? Would you protest in any form?”
Tlaib responds, criticizing Netanyahu and those who would consider inviting him to speak before Congress.
“I don't know, inviting a war criminal to Congress is a sham,” Tlaib said. “It is a shame.”
As she answers, the staffer steps between the cameraman and Pergram, who is still questioning Tlaib, and opens the umbrella again. The camera then spins wildly as the umbrella makes contact with the operator.
“He hit me with an umbrella,” the cameraman can be heard saying in the video.
“I didn't hit you with an umbrella,” the staffer replies.
“We got it on video, guys. He hit him with an umbrella,” Pergram tells Tlaib and the aide. “That's an attack.”
Tlaib and the aide continue walking, past Capitol Police officers and up the steps to the Capitol.
Tlaib's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Her refusal to answer Pergram's questions comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., issued an invitation for Netanyahu to address Congress.
Johnson told reporters on Thursday that he had given Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., an ultimatum: either sign for the drafted invitation or the House itself will extend the invitation.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, said he has issued an ultimatum to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, regarding Netanyahu's likely speech to Congress: either sign the prepared invitation, or the House will issue the invitation upon its invitation. own. (Getty Images)
“My office told Senator Schumer's office yesterday that he should sign the joint letter, and if not, we would go ahead and just invite Netanyahu to the House of Representatives, and I will send individual invitations to the senators,” Johnson said .
Tlaib, an outspoken critic of Israel's war with Hamas, this month called for the arrest of Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials for what she called violations of the Genocide Convention under international law.
In a May 7 press release, Tlaib called out the government of Israel for its ground operation in Rafah and denounced continued US aid to the Jewish state.
“It is no coincidence that immediately after our government sent the Israeli apartheid regime more than $14 billion, without any conditions on upholding human rights, Netanyahu launched a ground invasion of Rafah to continue the genocide of the Palestinians – with ammunition and bombs paid for by our tax dollars. ,” she said at the time. “More than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians, including more than 600,000 children, are trapped in Rafah, living in makeshift tents, without food, clean water, sanitation, medicine or any form of shelter.”
Tlaib accused Israeli forces of killing more than 35,000 Palestinians and displacing families in Rafah, exposing them to even more “unimaginable human suffering.”
She also warned her voters in the press release that many of her colleagues would express concern about the “crimes against humanity” in Rafah, even as the same colleagues voted to give Netanyahu the means to do so.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File)
“Do not be misled, they consented to these atrocities and our country is actively participating in genocide,” Tlaib said. “For months, Netanyahu made clear his intention to invade Rafah, yet the majority of my colleagues and President Biden sent more weapons to enable the massacre.”
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She said Netanyahu will only remain in power as long as the fighting continues, adding that the US must stop financing Israel.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Capitol Police for comment.
Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
