PHILADELPHIA, PA – Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict and its perception among younger voters during a CNN interview on Tuesday.
Fetterman highlighted the influence of social media platforms like TikTok on shaping perspectives, particularly among younger demographics. He expressed concern that such platforms might offer a skewed view of the conflict. The senator emphasized that, in his view, Hamas initiated the recent escalation by violating a ceasefire and committing acts of violence.
He spoke about TikTok skewing the content being sent to users of TikTok, including kids.
“I do know that a lot of people are getting their perspective from TikTok. I think if you are kind of getting your perspective on the world on TikTok, it’s going to tend to be kind of warped or not reflective of the history and actually doing things the way they are,” Fetterman said. “That is very clear is that Hamas started this, and they actually broke the ceasefire, and they attacked and murdered babies, children, women, attacked a music concert and everything. It’s outrageous. From now on, it’s been very clear that Israel would very much want there to be peace, but they have made it very clear that after October 7, that’s not possible so long as Hamas is allowed to exist.”
This discussion comes amidst broader conversations within the Democratic Party regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and the U.S. approach to it. The senator’s comments align with his consistent support for Israel, a stance evident from the Israeli flag displayed in his office.
The interview with Jake Tapper on “The Lead” delved into the reasons behind the apparent divide in opinion among younger party members, especially in the context of President Biden’s handling of the situation. The conversation reflects ongoing debates within the party and the country over the complex dynamics of the Israel-Hamas conflict.