Outrage is on the rise due to a shocking public statement made by a Florida state Republican lawmaker who called for the death of all Palestinians.
The comments were made during a debate in the state legislature regarding a ceasefire in Israel’s invasion of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 10,000 Palestinians, including many children. The assault followed an attack by Hamas fighters in which at least 1,400 people were killed, and over 200 were taken hostage.
During a speech in support of the ceasefire resolution, Democratic Florida state representative Angie Nixon questioned, “We are at 10,000 dead Palestinians. How many will be enough?”
“All of them,” Michelle Salzman replied.
Nixon acknowledged the interruption, remarking, “One of my colleagues just said, ‘All of them.’ Wow.”
Subsequently, the Florida state house voted 104-2 to reject Nixon’s resolution.
Salzman’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair-Florida), the US’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, condemned Salzman’s comments as a “chilling call for genocide” and a result of the “dehumanization of the Palestinian people” by backers of Israeli apartheid.
These events closely followed the censure of Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in the US Congress, for her statements on the situation in Palestine.
In response to Salzman’s comments, calls for censure have emerged from those opposed to her remarks.
“Salzman’s words are incredibly dangerous and dehumanizing to Palestinians here at home and under the Israeli occupation,” stated Cair-Florida executive director, Imam Abdullah Jaber.
Shortly before Nixon’s speech, Israel had agreed to daily four-hour humanitarian pauses. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly rejected a deal for a five-day ceasefire with Palestinian militant groups in Gaza in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden stated there was “no possibility” of a ceasefire.
