Rantz: Is Congressman Jim McDermott’s statement anti-Israel?

Congressman Jim McDermott sent out a press release Wednesday that Jason Rantz says provides no context on the Middle East conflict and if people take it at face value, they’ll be misled to believe Israel is murdering innocent people.

The Jason Rantz Show has reached out to McDermott’s office, who told Rantz “The Congressman is not interested in coming on the show.”

“You look at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City which has become a de facto headquarters for Hamas leaders, who can be seen in the hallways and offices, according to the Washington Post,” said Rantz. “You can look at the Wafa Rehabilitation Center in Gaza City that had rockets being launched right outside. You have the al-Asqa Hospital in Deir Balah that was being used to hide anti-tank missiles.”

Jerusalem Online reported that, according to the Israeli military, “Wafa hospital in Shuja’iyya was used for Hamas and Jihad operating and commanding rooms, and that in the past few days, fire was opened at military forces from inside the hospital.”

Rantz spoke with Dr. Andy David, the Consul General to Israel for the Pacific Northwest about McDermott’s statements.

“When somebody uses a hospital to shoot at you, it’s no longer a hospital, said David. “It’s a legitimate military target.”

The Congressman explained in his release that the hospital is under Israeli attack.

“As a physician, I am distressed by reports that Israel has attacked hospitals, ambulances and medical personnel in its on-going military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Physicians for Human Rights, Medecins Sans Frontieres, and the International Committee on the Red Cross/Red Crescent have reported that at least 11 medical facilities in Gaza have come under attack, some of them repeatedly. Palestinian health and emergency workers are unable to reach the dead and wounded in many parts of Gaza due to the danger of being attacked themselves.”

Strict and long-established international laws should protect the neutrality of medical facilities and workers in conflict zones. Moreover, the proximity of military targets or the suspicion of hidden weapons and militants is an invalid excuse in the targeting of a hospital or ambulance.”

“In McDermott’s world, Hamas could just be headquartered in hospitals,” responded Rantz. “They’d be able to be able to wage war without Israel actually being able to fight back.”

The release went on:

“I call on America’s long-time friend and ally Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and cease all attacks against health facilities and workers.”

Rantz said the Congressman is doing a disservice by not explaining what’s actually going on.

“So if you read this press release that Jim McDermott signed his name to and sent out to all the media on his list, you would get the impression that Israel is simply targeting hospitals and murdering innocent victims,” said Rantz.