Mark Pocan: “I thank Representative Omar for those words. As we speak, it was just announced a little while ago that the Israeli…”

“I thank Representative Omar for those words. As we speak, it was just announced a little while ago that the Israeli military was going into Gaza. It is not clear if it is going after rocket attacks or Hamas leaders or what is happening. But that is happening at this very moment. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), a senior, a very powerful Member of this Congress, the chair of the Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations, and a lifelong advocate for equality for Palestinians and for Israelis. Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Pocan, for his kind remarks and for being one of the organizers for tonight's Special Order. Tonight, I am here to condemn violence. I am here to speak out in support of human rights, political rights, and peace. For days, Hamas and extremists in Gaza have been firing rockets into Israel that have caused death, destruction, and fear among Israeli citizens. I condemn Hamas' actions. These attacks must stop. For 54 years, Israel has been enforcing a brutal military occupation in the West Bank that has terrorized Palestinian families. And I condemn Israeli's occupation of Palestine. Israel's occupation must end. What we are witnessing in Israel, East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank are the bitter fruits of discrimination that has empowered Jewish extremists and Palestinian extremists.…”