Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounced Sunday’s hate-filled pro-Palestinian rally in Times Square — only to try to redirect outrage back onto Israel following this weekend’s butchery by Hamas terrorists.
The demonstration, promoted by the Democratic Socialists of America, featured protesters stomping on and burning an Israeli flag and using a swastika image to taunt counter-protesters supporting the Jewish state.
“It should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it. That is a core tenet of solidarity. The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment,” the Bronx and Queens Democrat said in a statement issued more than a day and a half after the rally.
“It also,” she added in a flourish of whataboutism, “did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas’ horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.”
“We’re going to liberate Palestine,” one of Sunday’s protesters reportedly told the pro-Israel faction. “We already liberated parts of it already. So get ready to get barbecued.”
New York’s chapter of the DSA, which has dubbed Ocasio-Cortez the “foremost socialist superstar,” has insisted it didn’t organize the protest despite boosting it.
Other top Empire State Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, roundly condemned the blatant display of bigotry shortly after it took place.
The rally took place one day after Hamas launched a murderous assault on Israel with a barrage of rockets followed by massacres and kidnappings.
The rampage led Israel to declare war for the first time in 50 years, when a coalition of 10 Arab states led by Egypt and Syria invaded the Jewish state on the holy day of Yom Kippur in 1973.
More than 1,000 are confirmed to have died on the Israeli side of the conflict, including at least 11 US citizens.
Hamas is believed to have abducted at least 150 people and taken them to Gaza as hostages, with the White House saying Americans are “likely” among them.
Israel has begun taking retaliatory measures, flying warplanes over the Gaza Strip and bombing key sites ahead of an expected ground incursion.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have been slowly regaining control of parts of the south of the country invaded by Hamas and discovered evidence of atrocities.
Hamas has reigned over Gaza since 2007 and other terrorist groups such as Islamic Jihad operate there as well.
Ocasio-Cortez, who is a member of the so-called “Squad” of far-left House Democrats that tends to sympathize with the Palestinians, previously called for a cease-fire when the war broke out Saturday morning.
“Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights,” AOC said in a statement after the bloody attack commenced.
“I condemn Hamas’ attack in the strongest possible terms. No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region.”
Other members aligned with the “Squad,” such as Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), have drawn flak for their comments on the bloody carnage.
Tlaib, a Palestinian American, described Israeli policy toward the Palestinians as an “apartheid system,” while Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) accused Israel of committing a “war crime” by launching a siege of Gaza.
