Senate

Rubio: Palestinian envoy should stop complaining

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Thursday told the Palestinian ambassador to the U.S. to stop “complaining” about Israel’s actions.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Rubio said he received a “scathing” letter from the ambassador, criticizing him for comments he had made in support of Israel.

Rubio said the envoy should stop writing to U.S. senators and instead take responsibility for the Palestinian Authority’s actions, including creating a unity government with the terrorist group Hamas, which has launched rocket attacks against Israel.

{mosads}“Mr. Ambassador, why did your government unify with this terrorist organization?” Rubio said. “Stop writing letters to U.S. senators … complaining to us about what Israel is doing. 

“I think you need to take responsibility for your own people,” he added.

Rubio’s comments come as Israel continues its ground operation into Hamas begun after the group starting launching rockets and mortars. 

Rubio said Hamas was “100 percent” responsible for the violence since Israel had signed a cease-fire agreement prior to the attacks.

He also accused Hamas of using women and children as human shields to garner sympathy from the media.

“Don’t tell me both sides are to blame here, because it isn’t true,” Rubio said. “Hamas has decided to launch rockets against Israel … and what is Israel doing? What any country would do.”

Rubio is seen as a possible 2016 GOP presidential contender.

During the Gaza fight, Rubio has made several speeches urging the United States to remain a strong ally to Israel.

Tags Gaza Strip Hamas Israel–Gaza conflict Marco Rubio Palestinian National Authority

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