US Congressman Randy Fine, a Republican ally of President Donald Trump, sparked international outrage after suggesting during a congressional hearing that the Palestinian people should be destroyed first. Fine further boasted that he is “not afraid” to be labeled Islamophobic.

Controversial Statements During Congressional Hearing

During the hearing on Tuesday, Fine referenced the myth of Israeli “apartheid” restrictions against settlers in the West Bank, falsely claiming that Israelis are banned from certain areas. In reality, Israeli military warnings prohibit settlers from entering Palestinian towns for safety reasons, though armed settlers have repeatedly attacked Palestinian villages this year, resulting in the deaths of at least two US citizens.

Fine asked Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, how to make peace with Palestinians who allegedly seek Israel’s destruction. He then stated:

“I don’t know how you make peace with those who seek your destruction. I think you destroy them first.”

These comments align with a pattern of Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian rhetoric that Fine has demonstrated for years, including posts on social media and support for violent actions against Palestinians.

Historical Context of Fine’s Statements

Fine has a long history of inflammatory remarks targeting Palestinians and Muslims:

• In 2021, he commented on a photo of a dead Palestinian child, saying, “Quite well, actually! Thanks for the pic!”
• Earlier in 2025, he wrote “starve away” in reference to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• In 2024, Fine praised the killing of US activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by the Israeli military in the West Bank.
• On social media in 2023, he claimed, “While many Muslims are not terrorists, they are the radicals, not the mainstream. Now is the time to speak truth, not bathe in political correctness that will kill us.”

Despite these remarks, Fine has been a regular guest on mainstream media outlets, including CNN, and received endorsements from both Donald Trump and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) when elected to Congress.

International and Domestic Reactions

Human rights advocates and Palestinian organizations condemned Fine’s rhetoric. Abed Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), called him a “foreign spokesperson” prioritizing Israeli interests over American values.

Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), criticized Congressional Republicans and Trump for failing to denounce Fine’s statements, saying:

“This is what the Trump era has brought to the political arena: hateful speech from hateful people like Randy Fine, a sickening Zionist apologist for genocide who is allowed to spew his racism without condemnation.”

Fine’s rhetoric comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, where human rights organizations report tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties due to Israeli military operations. His statements echo broader debates over US foreign policy and the country’s alignment with Israeli actions in the region.

Broader Implications

Legal scholars note that under UN definitions, genocide includes acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national or ethnic group, including killing, causing harm, or imposing life conditions designed to bring about destruction. Fine’s statements, while political, have drawn attention for their potential alignment with such definitions, prompting calls for accountability from international and domestic organizations.

The controversy underscores the increasing polarization of US politics, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and highlights the challenges of combating hate speech by elected officials.