Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has stood by her statement that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing the severe humanitarian crisis there as evidence of intent.

When asked by a CNN anchor if she still stands by her previous labeling of Israel’s actions as “genocide,” Ocasio-Cortez said, “The word is extremely serious. It’s one that’s taken with extraordinary gravity. And, to me, the threshold of intent is a high one, it is a serious one and it is not one that is made lightly. However, when we look at the precipice of what is happening, with a forced famine of 1.1 million Gazans — where multiple governments, NGOs, and even officials within the United States State Department have stated themselves plainly that the Israeli government and leaders in the Israeli government are intentionally denying, blocking and slow-walking this aid and are precipitating a mass famine — I believe we have crossed the threshold of intent.”

Ocasio-Cortez said that there is a distinction between the Israeli people and the Israeli government. She said, “I think it is extremely clear and it is extremely important that all people understand the difference between people and their governments, Israelis and the Israeli government, Palestinians from Hamas. But what we are seeing here, I think, with a forced famine, is beyond our ability to deny or explain away. There is no targeting of Hamas in precipitating a mass famine of a million people, half of whom are children.”

This comes as the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn increasing concern from progressives and democrats who are alarmed by the civilian casualties and reports of severe starvation. With over 30,000 Palestinians killed since the violence escalated on Oct. 7 and the US starting to deliver humanitarian aid, President Biden has pledged to intensify efforts to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the violence.