Sen. John Fetterman seemed to wave an Israeli flag at a group of veterans who were being arrested for protesting at the Capitol demanding that lawmakers call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Fetterman has been facing protests and confrontations from pro-Palestine groups and constituents for his support of Israel.
The group protesting is called About Face: Veterans Against the War.
“Jackass John Fetterman saw veterans getting arrested and laughed. We asked to see Sen. Gillibrand . We were put in cuffs. We need leaders who listen to veterans demanding a #CeaseFireNow,” the group posted on X with a video of the encounter.
Jackass @JohnFetterman saw veterans getting arrested and laughed.
We asked to see @SenGillibrand. We were put in cuffs.
We need leaders who listen to veterans demanding a #CeaseFireNow pic.twitter.com/M7tHJ9RUS5
— About Face: Veterans Against the War (@VetsAboutFace) November 10, 2023
The protesters had been placed under arrest for protesting inside of New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office.
On Wednesday, Fetterman posted a video of himself hanging propaganda “Missing” posters featuring the people who have been taken hostage by Hamas in his office.
In my front office I have displayed the posters of the innocent Israelis kidnapped by Hamas.
They will stay up until every single person is safely returned home. pic.twitter.com/qxCmvC97uY
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) November 7, 2023
During a campaign event on November 7, Fetterman mocked a pro-Palestine protester.
“There’s 4,000-plus dead children in Palestine!” the protestor shouted during the event. “Nine-thousand dead civilians! Get off the stage!”
🚨 Fetterman responds to a protester by saying: “The joke is on you. I had a stroke. I can’t fully understand what you are saying.”
Beyond parody 🤣
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 6, 2023
Fetterman replied, “The joke is on you. I had a stroke. I can’t fully understand what you are saying.”
The lawmaker has also rejected calling for a ceasefire.
“Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized,” Fetterman wrote in a statement on October 18.
On October 30, Fetterman ignored questions about his position on the Israel war while being confronted by a professor of international human rights.
The professor, one of Fetterman’s voters, said he was assaulted by someone who was accompanying the senator.
I just took on @JohnFetterman for his failure to support a ceasefire for #Gaza and was assaulted. Come see the violence inherent in the system. pic.twitter.com/QOTKHNAnfE
— Dan Kovalik (@danielmkovalik) October 29, 2023
A group of 16 former campaign staffers, calling themselves “Fetterman Alumni for Peace,” have also publicly condemned Fetterman’s stance.
“Watching the United States military apparatus beat the drum for war—promising the Israeli government unconditional weapons support, a blank check for more destruction that will lead to the killing of more innocent Israelis and Palestinians, including children—has been hear-wrenching. Watching you lead that charge has felt like a gutting betrayal,” the letter states.
“These are not the values that we believed you to hold, and these are not our values.”
The signatories have remained anonymous but were confirmed to be former staff members by The Intercept.
