Representative Andy Ogles is attracting much attention for controversial remarks he made about the harrowing "conflict" in Palestine.
A recently leaked video shows him advocating a more aggressive stance, stating that America should assist in "killing them all."
On Thursday, The New Republic reported the far-right Tennessean got into a combative exchange with an activist, who pressed Ogles on his position regarding Israel's atrocities in Gaza and America's never-ending distribution of artillery to the cause.
"Do you know there's a genocide happening right now in Palestine?" the activist asked. "Over 300 health care workers have been killed. Have you called for a cease-fire?
"Let's be clear. Hamas raped and murdered babies," Ogles started. "I've seen the footage, and you haven't."
"I've seen the footage of shredded children's bodies," the activist responded. "That's my taxpayer dollars that are going to bomb those kids."
But Ogles showed no mercy for the plighted people, zealously championing the complete extermination of Palestine.
"You know what? So, I think we should kill 'em all, if that makes you feel better," Ogles retorted. "Everybody in Hamas."
"Do you have a heart? Do you have a family?" the activist responded, visibly taken aback.
"Hamas and the Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 20 years. And It's time to pay the piper," the lawmaker continued.
His comments come on the heels of the White House veto of a resolution at the United Nations Security Council for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza proposed by Algeria, claiming it would "jeopardize" talks to end the war.
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According to AlJazeera, in an email to the congressman's hometown newspaper, The Tennessean, Ogles's spokesperson, Emma Settle, wrote: "The Congressman was not referring to Palestinians, he was clearly referring to the Hamas terrorist group."
However, on social media platform X, the condemnation directed at Ogles only worsened, as one user stated, "Name 'em and shame 'em! Say hi to Andrew 'I think we should kill 'em all' Ogles. This extraordinary piece of feces is a USA congressman."
In a statement released on Wednesday, the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) "unequivocally" denounced Ogles and wrote that his remarks were tantamount to advocating for "the extermination of the Palestinian people," revealed AlJazeera.
Since Israel began its indiscriminate bombing and blockade of Gaza in October, AMAC continued,
"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."
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has reached 29,000 people, many of whom are women and children.
