A U.S. congressman, Tim Walberg from Michigan, has sought to clarify statements he made that sparked controversy, where he suggested the Gaza Strip should be dealt with in a manner similar to Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. This remark came in response to a question about the possibility of the U.S. constructing a pier in Gaza for delivering humanitarian aid amidst a UN-reported famine risk for the over 2 million residents there.
Walberg’s original comments were captured in a video posted online, where he expressed opposition to spending on humanitarian aid for Gaza, suggesting a quick resolution similar to the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945, which resulted in the deaths of up to about 226,000 people.
Following significant backlash, Walberg took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to explain that his comments were taken out of context and unfairly edited. He stressed that his reference to nuclear bombings was a metaphor intended to emphasize the importance of swiftly concluding the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine to minimize civilian casualties and avoid involving American troops.
Walberg, who has a background as a pastor and grew up during the Cold War, denied advocating for nuclear warfare. He highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, noting the heavy toll of the conflict on the Palestinian population, including thousands of deaths and injuries, widespread displacement, and severe shortages of essentials due to an Israeli blockade and infrastructure destruction. Despite the controversy, it’s noted that Detroit’s substantial Arab-American community is outside Walberg’s district.–News Desk