Ra’am MK asked to resign after denying slaughter of babies

Ra'am MK Iman Khatib-Yassin was asked to resign on Sunday after claiming that Hamas didn't slaughter babies or rape women on October 7.

In an interview with the Knesset Channel, she said that according to the footage presented in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit's documentary, no babies were slaughtered during the attack, and no women were raped.

The documentary in question was made up of footage taken from security cameras and cameras that were taken from killed or captured terrorists. At 47 minutes, it does not contain all existing footage from throughout the whole attack.

Has not seen the video

Khatib-Yassin also added that she hadn't watched the film herself.

"I couldn't watch it, but I heard about it first-hand," she said.

She also admitted that she actively avoids any messages about or footage from October 7.

Following the interview, Ra'am's leadership announced that there was no place for Khatib-Yassin in their list and asked her to resign.

Khatib-Yassin did not resign and later apologized.

"I had no intention of minimizing or denying the awful massacre of October 7 and the terrible crimes against women, babies, and elderly people who were murdered in the South," she said. "From the first day, I condemned the acts against Jews and Arabs who are citizens of Israel, and it's appropriate to highlight that, especially now."

The apology was not enough for Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas who sought advice from the Knesset's legal counsel on what sanctions could be issued against Khatib-Yassin.

Meanwhile, members of the coalition began a petition on Monday asking MKs to sign and agree to expelling Khatib-Yassin in accordance with the Basic Law: Knesset which says that a person could be prevented from running in elections for a number of reasons including supporting an enemy nation's or terrorist organization's war against Israel.