Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Tuesday the "free Palestine" movement that has emerged in the U.S. after Iranian-backed Hamas' terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the Israeli military's response in the Gaza Strip has become a cult "that's turned homicidal."
Fetterman, who has bucked many members of the Democratic Party with his staunch support for Israel, was asked by reporters, including Newsmax congressional correspondent Kilmeny Duchardt, about the terrorist attack Sunday in Boulder, Colorado.
At a rally where Jews gathered to support the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, an illegal immigrant from Egypt was accused of tossing Molotov cocktails and using a makeshift flamethrower to injure 12 people. The suspect, Mohamed Soliman, allegedly yelled "free Palestine" as he tossed the incendiary devices.
"This 'free Palestine' and all of this kind of thing, it's becoming like a cult that's been going on now for what 18 months of these things," Fetterman said. "Now you have these things that's turned homicidal, like what happened here in D.C., as well, too."
Fetterman was referring to the May 22 fatal shootings of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, members of the Israeli embassy who were attending an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
The suspect in their murders, Elias Rodriguez, 31, reportedly shouted "Free, free Palestine" after Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Milgrim, an American, were shot.
"They all say the same kind of things," Fetterman said. "They're wearing the same kinds of things, the masks and those scarves [kaffiyehs], and the same kind of chanting. It's become cultish now. I've had protesters showing up at my home and following me ever since 10/7. It's become part of it and it's undeniable that that has an impact and now it's manifest itself into these kinds of things."
Fetterman said it would not be enough to deport Soliman if he's convicted. Soliman has been charged with a federal hate crime in addition to facing state charges for attempted murder in Colorado.
"I think worse [should happen]," Fetterman said. "He tried to set people on fire. An 88-year-old woman was burned, and now she's in critical [condition]. It's outrageous what happened. We can't condemn that in the strongest terms. Who tries to set people on fire for that thing? And the screaming 'free Palestine' and other things. It's crazy."
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Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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