Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is facing fierce backlash after sending a fundraising message marking the anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attacks — one that omitted any mention of Hamas’s atrocities and instead blamed Israel. The Abdul El-Sayed Hamas email drew immediate condemnation from across the political spectrum for what critics called a stunning display of moral blindness.
“Two years ago this month, Netanyahu’s military launched a ground invasion of Gaza,” the email began, according to Politico reporter Nicholas Wu. El-Sayed made no mention of Hamas’s massacre of 1,200 Israelis or the kidnapping of hundreds more that triggered the war. Instead, he denounced Israel’s counteroffensive as “unconscionable” and “wrong,” accusing the United States of funding a “senseless war.”
“So, how do we show moral clarity and change the course? By winning races like this one,” the Democratic Senate hopeful wrote, using the message to solicit campaign donations.
The tone-deaf message was met with swift outrage online. “Wait, he sent this on OCTOBER 7, with 0 mention of the attacks? Boy, talk about disqualifying,” wrote editor Brian Rosenwald on X. Another user called the message “truly disgraceful,” while one described it as “unbelievably tone deaf.”
El-Sayed’s campaign later attempted damage control, claiming “that email mistakenly went out yesterday.” Spokeswoman Roxie Richner said, “Abdul has been clear and consistent: he holds equally valuable the lives of all innocent people and condemns violence against them.”
This isn’t El-Sayed’s first controversy. The former CNN commentator has repeatedly faced scrutiny for appearing at events with anti-Israel and pro-Hamas speakers, raising fresh doubts about his credibility on foreign policy and moral judgment.
