News|IslamophobiaUS Congressman Randy Fine suggests Palestinians should ‘be destroyed first’The Republican lawmaker, a Donald Trump ally, says during a congressional hearing that he is ‘not afraid’ to be called Islamophobic.

Overview of Statements by Congressman Randy Fine

During a congressional hearing on Tuesday, United States Congressman Randy Fine made controversial statements regarding the Palestinian people. Fine suggested that Palestinians should be destroyed and expressed no fear of being labeled Islamophobic.

The statements arose during a discussion in which Fine, who has previously made anti-Palestinian comments, spoke about the situation in the occupied West Bank. He referenced claims about restrictions on Israelis entering certain areas, attributing them to a form of "apartheid" against Israeli settlers.

Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, responded to Fine's comments by suggesting that Islam requires reformation to accept Israel as a Jewish state.

Fine, a Republican congressman from Florida, reiterated his stance, indicating a lack of interest in peace with groups he perceives as threatening to Israel's existence.

Abed Ayoub, executive director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), criticized Fine's rhetoric, comparing him to international political figures. Ayoub emphasized the divisive nature of Fine's comments and their reception among both Republicans and Democrats.

Fine has a history of making inflammatory statements. In 2021, he responded insensitively to a social media post about a Palestinian child, and earlier this year, he made dismissive comments about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), criticized both Fine and other political figures for failing to denounce his statements. Abudayyeh highlighted the impact of such rhetoric on the political climate in the United States.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.