John Fetterman's Latest Israel Move Sparks Fury

Democratic Senator John Fetterman is facing a backlash on social media after he revealed that he is displaying posters of people held hostage by Hamas in his office.

Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania, shared a video to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday showing the posters and was met with angry responses from other users on the site.

In October 7, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever air strikes on Gaza and then sent in ground forces. An estimated 240 people are being held hostage by Hamas, according to the Associated Press (AP).

As of Tuesday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 10,022 people had been killed including 4,100 children, according to figures cited by AP.

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed since October 7, according to the AP, citing Israeli authorities. Babies and other small children were among those killed, Israeli officials have said, without providing exact figures, according to the AP. About 30 children were also among the hostages taken by Hamas, it reported.

"In my front office I have displayed the posters of the innocent Israelis kidnapped by Hamas," Fetterman wrote on X on Tuesday.

"They will stay up until every single person is safely returned home," he added.

The senator's post included a 10-second video that showed the posters on the walls of his office.

Fetterman's post was met with backlash on X as some users responded to the video with criticism and anger, while also criticizing Israel's actions.

Newsweek has reached out to Fetterman's office via email for comment.

"Now do innocent Palestinians kidnapped by Israel!" wrote user Hessam.

User @HoganLong wrote: "It is amazing how quickly you went from someone I respected to someone I despised."

"You'd need 5 more offices to put all the pictures of children Israel has murdered in response. When will you be hanging those? Or don't they matter?" wrote X user David Foster.

"I too hope and pray that they return safely to their families," wrote user Ali Minai. "Any chance of also putting up pictures of the 4,000 Palestinian children who are never coming back? Not enough wall space?"

However, other users expressed support for Fetterman and responded to his post by thanking him or praising his position.

"Thank you so much, Senator," wrote user Sia Kordestani, whose bio describes them as an American and an Iranian Jewish refugee.

"Thank you senator! The hostages need to come home!" X user David replied to Fetterman.

Andy Thomas, who describes himself as a Biblical Christian, wrote: "this is probably the only thing I will agree with you ... good on you."

Fetterman has previously faced criticism—as well as support—for his views on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"If not for the horrific attacks by Hamas terrorists, thousands of innocent Israelis and Palestinians would still be alive today," Fetterman wrote on X on October 18.

"Now is not the time to talk about a ceasefire. We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children," he went on.

Fetterman was confronted about the issue in a viral video that was shared to X on October 29 that appeared to show him walking away from a member of the public who was questioning him about his failure to support a ceasefire.

The senator's 2022 election was a key victory for Democrats in Pennsylvania in part because Fetterman succeeded Republican Senator Pat Toomey, who had chosen to retire.

As a swing state, Pennsylvania appeared to be trending Republican in recent years and was won by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. However, President Joe Biden won the state in 2020 and Democrats scored another victory there with Fetterman's win two years later.

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