The State Department was slammed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Saturday for posting a now-deleted tweet urging Israel to “refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks” with Hamas.

Hamas militants attacked Israel by shooting missiles into towns as well as executing civilians, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians on Saturday. However, President Joe Biden addressed the nation in a televised speech hours after the attack, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to standby Israel.

The attack was the largest organized attack on Israel in decades as multiple towns near Gaza were invaded. The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs posted a tweet on X that generated a lot of controversy before it was removed. The office is a diplomatic post within the State Department that was opened by the Biden administration to boost relations with the Palestinian government.

“We unequivocally condemn the attack of Hamas terrorists and the loss of life that has incurred,” the office wrote in a tweet. “We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing.”

.@USPalAffairs deleted it but here’s what they tweeted: pic.twitter.com/6NvEyrMltd

— Darin Miller (@DarinBMiller) October 7, 2023

The tweet was promptly deleted but not before the Texas lawmaker demanded all employees involved in drafting it be fired from the government.

“This is disgraceful and every single person involved in drafting and approving this tweet should be immediately expelled from the U.S. government,” Cruz wrote.

This is disgraceful and every single person involved in drafting and approving this tweet should be immediately expelled from the U.S. government. https://t.co/EF6cJOCVpM

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 7, 2023

The State Department issued a statement later in the day denouncing the post, clarifying that the tweet does not represent the views of the executive.

“The United States condemns the terrorist attack against Israel and unequivocally supports Israel’s right to defend itself, as the President and Secretary have both made clear,” a spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon.

The post This Is Disgraceful’: Ted Cruz Torches State Department For Deleted Tweet Urging Israel To ‘Refrain From Violence & Retaliatory Attacks’ With Hamas first appeared on Mediaite.

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