Muslims, Democrats, and social media users have voiced their outrage over comments made by Republican Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee, who responded to an activist’s inquiry about the deaths of Palestinian children in Gaza by suggesting to “kill ’em all.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) condemned Ogles, asserting that his remarks amounted to advocating for the extermination of the Palestinian people.
AMAC highlighted a surge in anti-Muslim attacks across Tennessee since Israel initiated its bombing campaign and blockade of Gaza in October. They stated:
“Such rhetoric is not only abhorrent but also antithetical to our values as a state. It is such rhetoric that has continued to foster a political climate where extremist ideologies flourish, empowering neo-Nazis to openly parade through our streets and allowing genocidal sentiments to go unchallenged. This cannot be tolerated any longer. As citizens of Tennessee, we deserve better representation from those elected to office.”
Ogles’s comments were made in response to a pro-Palestinian activist who confronted him with questions while they were walking through a corridor in the United States Capitol.
“I’ve seen footage of shredded children’s bodies,” the activist told Ogles. “That’s my taxpayer dollars that are going to bomb those kids.”
Ogles responded abruptly: “You know what? I think we should kill ’em all if that makes you feel better. Hamas and the Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 20 years. It’s time to pay the piper.”
Before walking away, Andy Ogles turned to a camera and added, “Death to Hamas!”
In an email to his hometown newspaper, The Tennessean, Ogles’s spokesperson, Emma Settle, stated: “The Congressman was not referring to Palestinians, he was clearly referring to the Hamas terrorist group.”
The exchange between Andy Ogles and the activist occurred on February 15, but video footage of Ogles’s comments surfaced on social media shortly after the Biden administration vetoed a ceasefire resolution at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday. This marked the third time the US has voted against halting hostilities in Gaza since Israel’s offensive began.
Ogles, a first-term congressman, represents Tennessee’s gerrymandered 5th district, created in 2022 to favour Republican candidates and encompassing a portion of the state capital, Nashville. Prior to the US veto, a UNICEF spokesperson warned of an imminent surge in preventable child deaths in Gaza due to malnutrition and disease.
According to Palestinian health authorities, Israeli forces have killed over 12,400 children in Gaza since October 7. Additionally, Save the Children officials reported that nearly 10 Palestinian children in Gaza per day have suffered the loss of one or both legs since October.