Democratic U.S. Congressmember Ilhan Omar said outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Wednesday [21 August], where members of the “uncommitted” movement launched a sit-in to demand a Palestinian American be allowed to address the convention from the main stage.

Omar said she joined protesters outside the DNC because “there is no compassion in turning our heads away from the piles of dead bodies” in Gaza. “A ceasefire is only possible if we use every leverage that we have, and the biggest leverage that we have is to stop sending bombs,” says Omar, explaining why she is calling for an arms embargo against Israel and an end to “this genocidal war.”