Katherine Clark, the House Minority Whip from Massachusetts, has clarified that she is not accusing the Israeli government of committing genocide in Gaza. Her comments come after she previously used the term ‘genocide’ to describe the situation in the war-torn region. In a statement to POLITICO, Clark emphasized the need to address urgent issues such a bringing hostages home, providing aid to Palestinians, and ending the conflict. Her comments were initially reported by the Jewish News Syndicate.
Clark made her remarks at a Quaker-hosted event in her district, where she urged audience members to take action against the ‘starvation and genocide and destruction’ in Gaza. A spokesperson at the time did not retract her statements but noted that her position on the conflict remained unchanged. While many Democrats have criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, few have labeled the conflict as genocide, with Clark being one of the most senior Democrats to take this stance.
The war in Gaza has caused significant tension within the Democratic Party, as politicians and potential 2028 candidates grapple with how to discuss the war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Clark’s clarification comes as part of a broader debate over the party’s stance on the conflict, with some members expressing concern over the potential impact on the party’s image and unity.