Activists challenged Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Tuesday over calls for a cease-fire in Israel’s war against Hamas.
“Senator Rubio, will you call for a cease-fire in Gaza?” an activist with the group CODEPINK asked Rubio in a video posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“No, I will not,” Rubio responded to the activist, “on the contrary.”
Rubio then asked if someone was filming the interaction. “I want you guys to get this: I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on. These people are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes, and I hope you guys post that.”
The interaction occurred in the halls of Congress, according to the post.
The video was posted by a co-founder of CODEPINK, Medea Benjamin. CODEPINK describes itself as a “feminist grassroots organization working to end U.S. warfare and imperialism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.”
“We encountered Senator Rubio today,” Benjamin wrote in a video caption. “He wants Israel to keep bombing Gaza until ‘they destroy every element of Hamas.’ He doesn’t get it: Bombing creates MORE resistance. There will never be peace in Israel until there is justice for Palestinians.”
Rubio also posted audio of the same interaction Wednesday on X.
“Hamas supporters were in the U.S. Senate calling for a ceasefire,” Rubio captioned the audio. “They probably won’t be posting this video.”
Amid a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, the Palestinian militant group released two more hostages Thursday. Additional hostages also are expected to be released Thursday, according to the Israeli military.
