Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has condemned a cartoon she labeled as racist, which depicts her with a detonating pager, shortly after thousands of communication devices exploded in Lebanon amid attacks attributed to Israel.
Rashida Tlaib expressed her concerns on X, stating, “Our community is already in so much pain right now. This racism will incite more hate and violence against our Arab and Muslim communities, making everyone less safe.”
The cartoon, created by Henry Payne and published in the conservative magazine National Review, features a woman at a desk labeled “Rep. Tlaib” next to an exploding device, with the remark, “ODD. MY PAGER JUST EXPLODED.” This illustration references recent attacks in Lebanon that resulted in at least 37 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries, including among civilians.
After the attacks, Tlaib shared a post by Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, highlighting a breach of “international humanitarian law.” As a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Tlaib has faced significant backlash, including accusations of sympathizing with Hamas. In November, she was formally censured by the House for allegedly “promoting false narratives” about the Gaza conflict, which she denies.
Tlaib reiterated her support for Palestinians in Gaza, criticizing her Congressional colleagues for their silence as U.S.-funded weapons contribute to the violence. She emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “We are living through one of the most documented horrific crimes against humanity in our history… I wonder if it’s because these babies are Palestinian? They’re children, that’s it.”
