Pelosi urges FBI probe into Gaza ceasefire protests in US, suggests Russia links

WASHINGTON - Former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Jan 28 that she thinks some protests in the United States demanding a ceasefire in Gaza could be linked to Russia, and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) should conduct a probe into their funding.

Her comments were dismissed as “unsubstantiated smears” by some rights advocates, who said such remarks amounted to a dehumanisation of the Palestinian people.

Mrs Pelosi, who made the remarks in a CNN interview, provided no evidence for her claims. She was asked whether opposition to President Joe Biden’s policy in the war in Gaza

could hurt the Democrat in November’s presidential election.

“For them to call for a ceasefire is Mr Putin’s message, Mr Putin’s message. Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) would like to see,” Mrs Pelosi told CNN.

“I think some of these protesters are spontaneous, and organic, and sincere. Some, I think, are connected to Russia,” she said. “Some financing should be investigated, and I want to ask the FBI to investigate that.”

Mrs Pelosi’s comments marked the first time that a prominent US lawmaker has accused the Russian leader of backing US protesters calling for a ceasefire.

The Russian embassy in Washington was not immediately available to comment.

Protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza have recently occurred across the US, including near airports and bridges in New York City and Los Angeles, vigils outside the White House, and marches in Washington. Demonstrators have also interrupted Biden speeches and events.

The protests have been organised by a range of human rights, Jewish and anti-war activist groups.

Mr Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said: “It is unconscionable that an individual with such influence in this nation would spread unsubstantiated smears targeting those who seek an end to the slaughter of civilians in Gaza and a just resolution to that conflict. Her comments once again show the negative impact of decades of dehumanisation of the Palestinian people.”

Democratic US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Jan 28 that opposition by many to the war in Gaza was based on “the indiscriminate loss of life” in the region.

“I think what we are seeing right now throughout the country is that young people are appalled at the violence and the indiscriminate loss of life,” she told NBC News when asked about the protests against Mr Biden’s policy in Gaza.

The UN has demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, but Washington has vetoed resolutions for such calls in the United Nations Security Council, saying it would allow Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which governs Gaza, to regroup and rebuild.

Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on Israel

killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, over 1 per cent of the 2.3 million population there, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Many are feared buried in rubble.

Israeli bombardments have flattened much of the densely populated enclave, leaving most Gazans homeless, sparking food shortages that threaten famine, and incapacitating most hospitals. REUTERS