Lawmaker calls Israeli actions 'genocide,' urges vote on Lebanon war powers resolution; chair disputes claim

A lawmaker accused the Israeli government of committing "genocide" in Gaza and urged colleagues to support a Lebanon war powers resolution during a session of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The exchange began when the lawmaker said, "The apartheid government of Israel is intentionally killing civilians. It's the same genocidal playbook. They're ongoing genocide in Gaza... Genocidal maniac Netanyahu. This is a genocidal government that we are arming and supporting..." and argued that the House should vote for a Lebanon war powers resolution.

The committee's presiding member interrupted the speaker, saying, "Gentle lady's time is expired. The gentle lady is no longer recognized," and then challenged the characterization. The presiding member said, "What kind of ethnic cleansing takes place from a country or from a leadership or a military that warns people to get out? That doesn't sound like ethnic cleansing," and added that the earlier remarks had not mentioned "the actual targeted civilian population, Israelis."

The chair also criticized the lawmaker for declining to debate points of her own resolution, calling that choice "odd" and arguing the record lacked engagement with attacks on Israeli civilians by Hezbollah.

The transcript does not record any formal motion, second or a vote on the Lebanon war powers resolution. The exchange ended without a recorded committee vote or further procedural action in the provided transcript.