[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H56-H57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COMMEMORATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Tlaib) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. 
Day and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  This is an important day to Michigan's 12th District Strong. It is a 
reminder of the legacy of a man who dedicated his last breath to the 
pursuit of equality and justice for all.
  I am honored, Mr. Speaker, to represent the most beautiful, Blackest 
city in the country, the city of Detroit, where we birth movements, 
where every corner reminds us of the civil rights movement, of the 
labor movement.
  Dr. King knew the struggles to end racism, poverty, and war were all 
interconnected, as well, and 2 weeks before he was assassinated, Dr. 
King speaking to sanitation workers on strike said: ``All labor has 
dignity . . . You are reminding the Nation that it is a crime for 
people to live in this rich nation and receive starvation wages.''
  As we strive to make Dr. King's dream a reality, may we continue to 
fight for justice for all.


                        South Africa's Genocide

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today South Africa will present its case 
against the Israeli Government at the International Court of Justice.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the link for the case: https://
d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/tlaib.house.gov/uploads/2024/01/192-
20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf
  It is incredibly powerful to witness people who defeated apartheid in 
their own country hold the Israeli apartheid regime accountable for its 
crime of genocide in Gaza.
  Today, I am thinking of Nelson Mandela's powerful words: ``We know 
too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the 
Palestinians.''
  In the past 3 months, Israeli forces have killed over 23,350 
Palestinians, including more than 9,600 children. They have injured 
more than 59,400 Palestinians. More than 8,000 Palestinians are still 
missing under the rubble.
  This week, Secretary of State Blinken called the case meritless. Let 
me read directly from the case file starting on page 59: ``Expressions 
of Genocidal Intent Against the Palestinian People by Israeli State 
Officials and Others'' so you can hear directly from the 
Israeli officials in their own words, not mine.

  President Herzog said: ``It's an entire nation out there that is 
responsible. It's not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware not 
involved. It is absolutely not true. . . . and we will fight until we 
break their backbone.''
  He is one of the many Israeli officials to have handwritten messages 
on the bombs to be dropped on the children of Gaza.
  Netanyahu said in his own words: ``A struggle between the children of 
light and the children of darkness, between humanity and the law of the 
jungle.'' And he continues to say: ``This is a battle not only of 
Israel against these barbarians, it's a battle of civilization against 
barbarism.''
  Israel's Minister of Defense said: ``imposing a complete siege on 
Gaza. No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything is closed. 
We are fighting human animals . . .'' Again, that is a direct quote 
from the Minister of Defense.
  He continues on to say: ``Gaza won't return to what it was before. We 
will eliminate everything.''
  Israeli Minister for National Security--again, an official within the 
Israeli Government--speaking of those living in Gaza said: `` . . . 
they're all terrorists, and they should also be destroyed.''
  Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said: ``All the 
civilian population in Gaza is ordered to leave immediately. . . . They 
will not receive a drop of water or a single battery until they leave 
the world.''
  Israeli Minister of Heritage said: ``The north of the Gaza Strip, 
more beautiful than ever. Everything is blown up and flattened, simply 
a pleasure for the eyes . . . we will hand over lots to all those who 
fought for Gaza over the years.''
  I am not done.
  The Israeli Minister of Agriculture said: ``[w]e are now actually 
rolling out the Gaza Nakba.''
  Deputy Speaker of the Knesset said: `` . . . we all have one common 
goal--erasing the Gaza Strip from the face of the Earth. Those who are 
unable will be replaced.''
  Israeli Army Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories 
speaking of the Palestinians living in Gaza said: ``Human animals are 
dealt with accordingly.''
  The Israeli Army Reservist said: ``. . .don't leave anyone behind. 
Erase the memory of them. Erase them, their families, mothers and 
children. These animals can no longer live. . . .Let them drop bombs on 
them and erase them.''
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the entire South African 
genocide case

[[Page H57]]

against Israel in the International Court of Justice: https://
d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2024/01/192-20231228-app-01-00-
en.pdf
  Mr. Speaker, there is simply time to save lives, to stop the Israeli 
Government from carrying out the genocide in Gaza. This body and the 
Biden administration are complicit in this genocide. Congress must stop 
funding the genocide of the Palestinian people with our American tax 
dollars.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.

                          ____________________