A.G. Gancarski
A Jacksonville Democrat took flack in the House Special Session for her proposed resolution (HR 31C) supporting a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, ahead of a 104-2 vote against it.
Rep. Angie Nixon’s measure “calling for an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine” united Republicans and even some Democrats, who made their cases that Israel’s retaliation to the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks was justified and should continue until the Benjamin Netanyahu government’s strategic aims are satisfied.
In emotional introductory remarks that ran approximately three minutes, Nixon stressed her public condemnation of the Hamas “terrorist attacks.”
“I filed this resolution for the 1,400 Israelis and now over 10,000 Palestinians killed since the attack. Sadly, my resolution was the only one that recognized explicitly the Palestinian people that have also suffered and are continually suffering right now,” Nixon said.
“It’s never been my intent to downplay the heinous acts that took place at the hands of Hamas nor to downplay the ongoing hostage situation. My intent is simply to uplift and humanize the innocent individuals that have lost their lives and are at risk of losing their lives.”
The sponsor cited the United Nations calling Gaza a “children’s graveyard,” noting that 88 United Nations aid workers have perished in the last month. She added that her resolution holds that “all human life is precious and the targeting of civilians no matter their religion … or ethnicity is a violation of international humanitarian law.”
Unsurprisingly, Nixon’s bill stoked outrage among Republicans and some Democrats in extended discussion, setting the stage for a chorus of indignation in the form of questions targeting one of the most liberal members of the diminished House Democratic caucus.
Rep. Randy Fine, a Brevard County Republican, questioned Nixon’s use of the phrase “occupied Palestine.”
Nixon contended Palestinians lack “freedom” and “basic necessities,” including even the access to water. Fine countered that prior to Oct. 7, Israelis did not occupy the Gaza Strip.
“That’s outside the scope of my resolution,” the Jacksonville Democrat said.
Fine continued his line of argument, noting Israelis departed Gaza in 2005, pressing Nixon on whether Gaza was occupied. She offered no meaningful response.
Asked by Rep. Jeff Holcomb what the punishment to Hamas perpetrators of attacks on Israelis should be, Nixon said they should be “brought to justice.”
Fine questioned Nixon’s assertion of how many Palestinians have been killed, noting the data comes from Hamas itself.
“You are repeating a number that is given by terrorists,” Fine added, pressing Nixon on how many Palestinian casualties are “terrorists.”
“There are hundreds and thousands of children that have died,” Nixon said.
The inquiries kept coming from House Republicans.
Rep. Dean Black of Jacksonville wondered why the resolution didn’t call for Hamas to “surrender unconditionally” with an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.”
Rep. Michelle Salzman asked if the bill was sympathetic to “terrorists.”
Rep. Alex Andrade wanted to know if Nixon considered Hamas a “terrorist organization,” and if she was aware Hamas was the “elected representative of the Gaza Strip.”
Nixon had introduced three amendments, with one actually being heard that clarified the “verbiage of de-escalation.”
Like the resolution itself, it was a non-starter.
“You don’t get to file a resolution and then come back and go ‘Oops,'” said Fine, describing the resolution as “flawed” and objecting to the framing of a “balanced conflict” between Israelis and Palestinians, which he said exemplified “whataboutism.”
Debate was also lopsided.
Rep. Hillary Cassel, a Democrat from Boynton Beach, said Hamas wants to “annihilate” her “people from the planet,” in describing her fear for loved ones in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks.
“We are not dealing with rational people,” Cassel said, but an “attempt to massacre an entire group of people.”
Applause filled the chamber as Cassel vowed that Jewish people will “not back down,” questioning why Nixon didn’t have a resolution urging Ukraine to stop fighting back against Russia’s invasion.
Rep. Michael Caruso’s remarks included vivid descriptions of the Nazi Holocaust, saying that just as that can’t be justified, neither can the “unprovoked attacks” on Jews on Oct. 7. He suggested Nixon’s resolution really was a green light for Hamas to “regroup,” and that it is their choice to cease the conflict.
The Palm Beach County Republican described pro-Palestinian protesters as an “insurrection,” vowing “Never Again!”
“This bill is bad. I’m offended by this bill,” Caruso said, saying the resolution “perpetuates hate and death.”
“There is evil in this room. And we can fight them today,” added Fine, noting that Israel could have committed “genocide” in Gaza with bombs, but instead did not, “risking the lives of its soldiers to try to minimize the deaths of Gazans.”
“This resolution is dangerous,” Fine added, “because it legitimizes the folks who are out there marching, saying ‘Gas the Jews’ (and) ‘From the River to the Sea.'”
In an emotional close, Nixon made the impassioned case for defense of “marginalized communities,” noting that some Democrats feared a loss of “fundraising” for supporting this resolution, which she says her community wanted.
“What about what it means to be a part of a marginalized community being manipulated to go against another marginalized community? Many of my colleagues have stated that folks are fearful of another massacre occurring to the Jewish people. Well, guess what a massacre is occurring now, entire bloodlines of Palestinians have been wiped away,” Nixon said.
“The threat since filing this resolution have been real to me is that democracy to the people at home, I will fight on your behalf no matter what, even if they threaten to take away funding, even if they threaten to silence me, I won’t remain silence even if they punish me like they continue to do because I’m speaking out for marginalized communities, all marginalized communities and you can turn your back on me. But I am on the right side of history because I don’t want the babies to die.”
Ultimately, the words were in vain. Only Rep. Anna Eskamani voted “yes” with Nixon on the measure, and the House applauded the resolution’s failure.
30 comments
Impeach Biden
November 7, 2023 at 1:19 pm
I bet she is influenced by Tik Tok, Instagram, and Facebook. You think she could find Gaza on a map?
Silly Wabbit
November 7, 2023 at 2:19 pm
You ass.
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 3:07 pm
us lefties don’t use any of the sites you mentioned, we use tyt. are you not aware of the best left site?
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 1:34 pm
Israel wants Gaza to be a mìlitary prison camp:
Haaretz–
“Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that one of the main goals for the period after the war is to guarantee the IDF’s freedom of action in Gaza “without limitations.”
Earl Pitts "High School Political Science Teacher" American
November 7, 2023 at 3:03 pm
In Angie’s defence:
It may be easy, when living in “Dook 4 Brains Leftist Infested” Duvall County to loose your State-Wide perspective and think the entire State is infested with Dook 4 Brains Leftists.
Now, class, by a show of hands does anyone have any idea what sort of valuable political lesson Angie may have learned?
Earl Pitts “High School Political Science Teacher” American
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 3:13 pm
CAUTION ⚠ TROLL COMMENT BY EARL DOOK
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 2:02 pm
In America, you have to generally agree with rightwing Likud to be “OK”
In intellectually freer Israel, you can openly have and discuss less-oppresive alternatives.
Take a glance at Haaretz.
MH/Duuuval
November 8, 2023 at 11:00 pm
It looked for a moment that Bebi was going to get kicked to the curb, but then Hamas blew up.
TJC
November 7, 2023 at 2:28 pm
A human being makes the case for a cease-fire in a war that has killed thousands of civilians on both sides, and she is condemned for it.
“…and the House applauded the resolution’s failure.”
And most of them call themselves Christians.
Jesus.
MH/Duuuval
November 7, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Or, not put to fine a point on it: Jesus wept.
Rick Whitaker
November 7, 2023 at 5:50 pm
that’s what christians have been doing for centuries, wiping out the competition when able. religions are death cults.
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 2:47 pm
I wonder how many IDF troops have to die to get Naziyahoo out of hìs three corruption charges?
And how many civilian Gazans?
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 2:53 pm
And is Israel supposed to shoot all the doctors at Hamas’s Gaza Ministry of Hèalth?
What does “totally destroy Hamas” really mean?
MH/Duuuval
November 8, 2023 at 11:01 pm
aka A Final Solution
MH/Duuuval
November 7, 2023 at 5:45 pm
Beni is as desperate as Trump to save his own hide and, like Trump, has no problem kicking those who are already down.
Ocean Joe
November 7, 2023 at 5:48 pm
If you want a cease fire release the hostages.
Simple.
The children, the 9 month old, the 80 year old woman.
The 244 people.
Instead, hide in tunnels while your people suffer for what you brought them.
500,000 dead Syrians and millions displaced to Europe by another Arab dictator.
Hamas holds the key. Have your leaders who hide in luxurious apartments in Qatar give the word.
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 6:19 pm
They are crazy not to release the hostages.
The civilians.
They can keep the IDF as POWs.
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 6:23 pm
I have seen on national news videos of IDF using Arab young men as human shields. Tied to the hoods of IDF jeeps.
Impeach Biden
November 7, 2023 at 6:25 pm
A taste of their own medicine. Hamas started this and Israel will finish it.
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Israel gets a taste of its own medicine.
And beyond human shields, Israel’s founding was drenched in Zionist terrorism. Palestinians just “took up the baton.”
Irgun
Stern Gangs
Davidka (sp?) weapon
The Zionists were proud of it.
The Davidka is now in a museum I believe (I first read of it in the Uris novel Exodus).
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 7:14 pm
The Zionists were proud of it.
.
https://www.amazon.com/Lady-was-Terrorist-Israels-liberation/dp/B0007DUP14
.
And of course don’t forget the King David Hotel bombing.
Israel’s hands also started out dirty . . . and bloody.
My Take
November 7, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Fine countered that prior to Oct. 7, Israelis did not occupy the Gaza Strip.
=======
They barricaded it.
Prison guards don’t occpy cells.
Charlotte Greenbarg
November 8, 2023 at 8:26 am
“ My Take” exemplifies what an antisemite is. A pox on all your houses.
MH/Duuuval
November 8, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Anti-Semite, broadly speaking, is anyone who hates without reason Jews or Arabs or both. “My Take” is proffering a historical context; your take is ahistorical, and possibly millennialist. Looking ahead to the Rapture, perhaps?
Rick Whitaker
November 8, 2023 at 8:21 pm
YOU ARE FOOLISH
My Take
November 9, 2023 at 12:31 pm
If you aŕe not an Israel-Firster Likud-Licker you are an antisemite to these dishònest shills.
MH/Duuuval
November 8, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Despite all the aggrieved caterwauling by the self-righteous in Tallahassee, it’s worth noting that the smartest person in the room — Anna Eskamani — was the lone vote with Nixon. Anna is the future, if we’re lucky. Randy Fine is headed for the trash heap of history.
My Take
November 9, 2023 at 1:21 pm
The IDF and settler murders of Palestinians on the PALESTINIAN West Bank are largèly under the media radar.
MH/Duuuval
November 9, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Many have seen the video of a settler shooting a West Bank Arab and walking away from the scene, surrounded by Israeli soldiers.
!My Take
November 10, 2023 at 11:52 am
Israel — “racist” pariah state.
Fair or not, a growing verdict in the world.
Comments are closed.