Congress censures Palestinian-American lawmaker Rashida Tlaib

The US House of Representatives has voted to censure Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress.

The measure, passed in a 234-188 vote, accuses Tlaib of "promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel," and is the second attempt to formally punish Tlaib over her comments about the war.

One of the remarks she was condemned for explaining the chant "from the river to the sea", which she said was "an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate". Supporters of Israel claim the phrase promotes the destruction of Israel. To learn more about the chant and its origins, click here.

The same words got political commentator Marc Lamont Hill fired from CNN in 2018.

Speaking on Tuesday, Tlaib said that she would not be silenced.

“No government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticising the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent, and it’s been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation," she said.