A video that surfaced recently showed a member of the "the Squad," Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., telling a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters during a November speech that the reports of atrocities — rape and murder of women, children, and infants — in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel were nothing more than "propaganda."
Bowman gave the speech Nov. 17, nearly six weeks after Hamas' attack inside Israel and well after reports of their atrocities had surfaced, including from Israel itself.
"There was propaganda used at the beginning of the siege," he said in the video, posted by former Westchester County Board of Legislators legislative assistant Amy Vele. "There's still no evidence of beheaded babies or raped women, but they still keep using that lie."
Bowman never walked back the comments until Thursday, when he was confronted with his own remarks outside the House floor.
"I'm focused on my votes and other things. I'm not talking," Bowman told Politico.
When asked if he still doubted those claims, he added: "I'm not talking about that now. My team will get back to you."
In a subsequent statement to Politico, Bowman walked back his comments.
"The UN confirmed that Hamas committed rape and sexual violence, a reprehensible fact that I condemn entirely. I also voted yes on Resolution 966, which officially condemns the rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas. So let me be clear, and ensure my words are not twisted: I always stand against sexual violence in all forms and stand for peace for all," he said in the statement.
Bowman's November speech came three days after House members attended a graphic 40-minute screening of the atrocities committed by Hamas. It's unclear if Bowman went. What bipartisan lawmakers called "proof of Hamas' war crimes" days later Bowman called "propaganda."
In the same video, Bowman accused Israel of being an "apartheid state," which, he said, is a "war crime." That echoed sentiments delivered by fellow Squad members Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Cori Bush, D-Mo., on the very day and weekend that Israel was attacked.
Bowman is being primaried by George Latimer in New York's 16th Congressional District. Bowman has lost the support of the progressive pro-Israel lobbying group J Street. Further, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has also pledged to spend millions against anti-Israel candidates like Bowman.