In a stunning reversal that's stirring waves in Jewish and progressive circles, California State Senator Scott Wiener has labeled Israel's military operations in Gaza as "genocide," marking a pivotal shift after years of measured criticism. The announcement, made via a video on X (formerly Twitter), comes amid intense scrutiny in his bid to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in Congress.
Wiener, a prominent Jewish Democrat known for his advocacy on housing and LGBTQ+ rights, explained his initial hesitation stemmed from the word's deep trauma for Jews, coined in the wake of the Holocaust. "For the past two years, I've harshly opposed Israel's escalations in Gaza... but I haven't used the word genocide," he said in the clip. However, after witnessing the "absolute devastation and catastrophic death toll," he concluded that the Israeli government's actions, including efforts to "destroy Gaza and push Palestinians out," meet the definition.
