Jamaal Bowman Says Netanyahu ‘Needs To Be Removed’

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) joined calls by a Democrat lawmaker for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be replaced.

During a Saturday MSNBC appearance, Bowman called the Israeli leader “a maniac,” suggesting that he “needs to be removed.”

Indicating support for Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) call last month for Israel to hold a new election to choose another leader, Bowman said, “The majority of Gaza has already been destroyed through acts of collective punishment by this maniac, Benjamin Netanyahu. I’m 100% with Senator Schumer. He needs to be removed. He is a blockade to a pathway to peace.”

“And we need a ceasefire right now. That’s what we should be focused on — humanitarian aid, not weapons,” he added.

According to Bowman, the majority of the public supports his stance for there to be a permanent ceasefire in the fight in Gaza.

“We have hundreds of thousands of children starving to death in Gaza right now, as we speak, the majority of the American people support a permanent ceasefire. The majority of my district supports a permanent ceasefire. We need a permanent ceasefire. We need to bring in hundreds of trucks that are five miles away from Gaza right now of aid, to save as many lives as possible. There’s a humanitarian crisis,” he stated.

Bowman went further to criticize the Biden administration’s provision of military aid, including 25 F-35 fighter jets, to Israel. Asked if the administration should have notified Congress before going ahead of the decision, he said, “Oh, absolutely. Congress should have been notified and forget the politics of it. This is about our humanity, and this is about our morality.”

Later on Saturday night, Bowman doubled down on his position in a post to X.

“This is about people, not politics. We must do everything in our power to ensure a permanent ceasefire, not send more bombs and weapons. The majority of our country and of NY-16 agree: we need lasting peace and that means a permanent ceasefire,” he wrote.

This is about people, not politics.

We must do everything in our power to ensure a permanent ceasefire, not send more bombs and weapons.

The majority of our country and of NY-16 agree: we need lasting peace and that means a permanent ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/dIOmQC5nLU

— Rep. Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (@JamaalBowmanNY) March 30, 2024

During a speech from the Senate floor on March 14, Schumer called for an election in Israel, arguing that that is “the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision making process about the future of Israel at a time when so many Israelis have lost their confidence in the vision and direction of their government.”

“There needs to be a fresh debate about the future of Israel after Oct. 7. In my opinion, that is best accomplished by holding an election,” he added.