According to Rep. Bowman, there needs to be a "clear distinction" between the people and the government of Israel.

Rep. Bowman is one of numerous progressive Democrats who have criticized Israel’s administration since its war with Hamas began.
New York City Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat, is calling for a “clear distinction” to be created between Israeli individuals and the country’s government, citing an increase in antisemitism in the United States and around the world as a result of the conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

Bowman said that people may keep the Israeli government accountable while still standing with Jews against antisemitism and hatred.

“The Israeli government does not speak for the Jewish people.” “Those are two completely different things,” the lawmaker remarked in a video posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “As a result, when I criticize the Israeli government, I am not criticizing Jews.” I am not bashing Buddhists when I criticize the Myanmar government. I’m not insulting Muslims when I criticize Saudi Arabia. When I criticize the United States, I blame the United States government.”

“Because our governments have to do better for their people as opposed to using our people, our trauma, our grief, and our suffering for their own power,” he said.

Since Hamas started its deadliest onslaught against Israel in decades on Oct. 7, more than 10,000 people have been murdered in Gaza and Israel, prompting retaliatory action from Israeli forces. Thousands more have been injured, and many more have been kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Hamas.

Bowman is one of numerous progressive Democrats who have criticized Israel’s administration since the start of the conflict against Hamas. Last week, a resolution to punish Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., for anti-Israel statements failed to pass.

Last month, the New York congressman co-sponsored a resolution with more than a dozen other progressive House members calling for an Israeli-Hamas cease-fire. Bowman was also one of more than 20 House members, including one Republican, who voted against a separate resolution calling on university administrators to condemn antisemitism on their campuses and to ensure that Jewish faculty and students can exercise free speech without fear of reprisal.

Bowman also urged the Biden administration in his Saturday video to guarantee that Israel follows international law in its fight against Hamas.