House Democratic Whip Walks Back Gaza Genocide Comment

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark initially referred to the conflict in Gaza as involving 'starvation and genocide' during a local event but quickly clarified that she does not accuse Israel of committing genocide. Clark's remarks, which reflected a growing faction within the Democratic Party advocating for legislation to block U.S. arms sales to Israel, drew mixed reactions and prompted her to emphasize the need to increase aid to Palestinians, oppose forced relocations, defeat Hamas, and bring hostages home. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a prominent pro-Israel Democrat, confirmed Clark's stance that she does not believe Israel's actions amount to genocide and highlighted bipartisan efforts supporting Israel's defense. Clark's comments were made amid a broader debate over U.S. policy in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with her position illustrating the tension within the Democratic leadership between supporting Israel and addressing humanitarian concerns. She remains publicly aligned with pro-Israel groups like AIPAC, underscoring her continued support for Israel despite the controversy. Meanwhile, House Democrats continue diplomatic engagements with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to address humanitarian issues and discuss paths toward conflict resolution.