California Representative Declines to Endorse October 7 Attacks in Interview

A California member of Congress declined to endorse the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel during an interview with Drop Site News. The representative called the attacks a terrorist attack and said endorsing them would not advance peace or Palestinian statehood.

The interviewer asked whether Palestinians had a right to attack Israeli military bases. The representative rejected the premise and said the representative has always supported peaceful resistance.

The interview drew criticism from anti-Israel activists.

The representative had previously drawn backlash after declining to support a complete U.S. arms embargo on Israel. The representative maintained criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza, describing it as genocide while stating Israel had the right to pursue those responsible for the October 7 attacks.

The interview took place days after the representative's visit to the West Bank. The representative said Israeli settlers detained the representative and members of the delegation for 75 minutes. A U.S. ambassador disputed the account, stating the embassy did not know a member of Congress was coming and would have advised against entering the restricted area.

The ambassador also disputed claims that the representative had been held at gunpoint. Drop Site News launched in 2024 and has drawn criticism from opponents who argue its coverage gives undue weight to Hamas claims.