Rashida Tlaib, renowned Michigan Democrat and the only Palestinian-American in the U.S. Congress, has recently made headlines. Tlaib has been vocal in her criticism of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, even going so far as to accuse him of supporting genocide in Gaza. Displaying her well-known forthrightness, Tlaib stated, “Mr. President, the American people are not with you on this one”.

Her allocution came with a caution for the president, warning that Biden voters “will remember in 2024”. Tlaib’s contentious remarks were both lauded and criticized, receiving substantial backlash online from fellow politicians, advocacy organizations, and the public. Her adamant defense of those chanting against the Jewish people has even drawn a call for her to retract her remarks from Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel.

Tlaib’s plea to the president for a ceasefire in the escalating conflict aligns her with Democratic congress members urging for diplomacy. As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches with bated breath as the first Palestinian-American woman serves in Congress returns each blow with her steadfast convictions.