Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) on Wednesday dismissed the notion of advocating a two-state solution that involves Hamas remaining in control of Gaza.
Fetterman made the comments at a press conference at the Capitol while standing alongside members of the Israeli Knesset and families of hostages being held in Gaza. The Pennsylvania senator has been unapologetically vocal about his support for Israel since Hamas carried out its Oct. 7 attack, as well as his opposition to a ceasefire backed by progressives.
“I support a two-state solution as well,” Fetterman said at the press conference organized by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). “But that is meaningless until Hamas is effectively eliminated because Hamas disavows and rejects a two-state solution.”
The comments come two weeks after Fetterman and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) were the sole Democrats not to co-sponsor Sen. Brian Schatz’s (D-HI) resolution reiterating that U.S. policy favors a two-state solution for Israel and Gaza.
While many lawmakers support a two-state solution in theory, a number of pro-Israel voices have suggested that such an idea is impossible were Hamas to remain in control of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month that Israel required “security control over all territory” to ensure its safety, which is incompatible “with the idea of sovereignty” for the Palestinians.
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For his part, President Joe Biden has maintained that he supports a two-state solution and sees a path toward there being an eventual Palestinian state.
The Oct. 7 massacre and Israel’s military offensive have highlighted internal divisions within the Democratic Party. Progressive Democrats have vocally opposed Israel’s response to the attack, which marked the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, while most in the party have emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself even as they call for restraint.
