Progressive “Squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing well-deserved backlash after her reckless and inaccurate statements regarding Israel’s recent operation against Hezbollah. The incident, which involved Israeli counterintelligence officials targeting Hezbollah terrorists with explosive pagers, has been called a “war crime” by AOC—claims that NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo was quick to dismantle.
Cuomo, a veteran news anchor known for his sharp analysis, didn’t hold back. AOC, he argued, was not just wrong but “dead wrong” in her accusations against Israel. Her tweet claimed that the operation “unequivocally violates international humanitarian law” and undermines U.S. efforts to prevent a wider conflict. Yet, as Cuomo pointed out, her remarks were misleading at best and outright false at worst.
AOC, known for her frequent criticism of America’s allies, once again put herself at odds with the nation’s longstanding relationship with Israel. While Hezbollah, a recognized terrorist organization responsible for countless attacks, continues to be a menace in the Middle East, AOC chose to focus her ire on Israel’s self-defense measures.
Cuomo took the opportunity to deliver a thorough fact-check, explaining the situation from a legal and strategic standpoint. He reminded viewers that Israel operates under its own sovereignty and is not bound by U.S. domestic law, a basic fact AOC seems to have overlooked. More importantly, Cuomo explained that international law, including guidelines laid out by the Department of Defense, permits the use of weapons like booby traps and explosive devices when proper precautions are taken to avoid civilian harm. In this case, the devices were used surgically to target bloodthirsty Hezbollah militants, not innocent civilians.
AOC’s remarks failed to account for these nuances. Cuomo, while reading directly from the Department of Defense manual, explained that the use of such devices is allowed under the condition that precautions are taken to minimize civilian harm. Israel’s actions against a terrorist group like Hezbollah, which has used its own people as human shields, were fully within the bounds of international law.
Cuomo further criticized AOC for either lacking a sufficient legal background to make such bold claims or for intentionally misrepresenting the facts to push an anti-Israel narrative. “This is why you don’t accuse and then go in search of a crime,” Cuomo pointed out. His critique highlighted a troubling trend: politicians like AOC are quick to condemn America’s closest allies without understanding the legal and strategic complexities at play.
This isn’t the first time AOC has gone after Israel. Her outspoken views are part of a broader trend within the far-left faction of the Democratic Party to challenge the U.S.-Israel relationship, a critical alliance that has maintained stability in the Middle East for decades. Yet, as Cuomo aptly pointed out, Israel is not obligated to follow U.S. policies when defending itself from a terror group that has repeatedly attacked it.
For conservatives, AOC’s latest blunder is another example of her dangerous naivety and misplaced sympathies. Rather than condemning a terrorist group that threatens Israel and Western interests alike, she once again chose to take aim at the very people defending freedom in the region.
Chris Cuomo’s fact-check serves as a reminder that politicians, especially those with as much influence as AOC, should be careful with their words. Israel, like any nation, has the right to defend itself from existential threats like Hezbollah. Instead of tearing down our allies, we should stand with them. AOC’s misguided attacks on Israel only serve to embolden the enemies of freedom.
