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Has a Wisconsin member of Congress openly supported Hamas?

By Tom Kertscher
NO

No Wisconsin member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives has declared support for Hamas since the terrorist group attacked Israel Oct. 7, 2023.

Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who represents western Wisconsin, claimed Oct. 30 without evidence that at least one Wisconsin member of Congress openly "and actively" supports Hamas. In a Newsmax interview he named Madison area Rep. Mark Pocan.

His office did not reply to Wisconsin Watch's request for information to back his claim.

Among Wisconsin’s two senators and eight House members, three are Democrats:

Sen. Tammy Baldwin called the attacks appalling and said she stands with the Israeli people.

Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee condemned the attacks.

Pocan condemned the attacks. He has also emphasized that not everyone in the Gaza Strip, the focus of Israel’s counterattacks, is Hamas, and called for aid to Gaza civilians.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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