Sara Innamorato denounces Democratic Socialist statement on Israel-Gaza conflict

Allegheny County executive candidate Sara Innamorato is breaking with a left-wing group over the group’s latest statements on the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Innamorato, a Democrat from Lawrenceville, posted on social media Wednesday that she strongly denounces the statements made by the national and local chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America. She called the statements “anti-Israel” and said each “coldly ignores the gruesome attacks on innocent Israelis.”

Innamorato was a member of the local DSA group when she entered politics in 2018.

“In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas, I want to reaffirm my solidarity with the Jewish people and innocent civilians subjected to the wrath of Hamas,” said Innamorato, 38. “Israel has a right to defend itself while minimizing civilian casualties. Additionally, I support a plan that offers safe passage out of Gaza for civilians because Hamas also uses innocent Palestinians as human shields.”

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas, I want to reaffirm my solidarity with the Jewish people and innocent civilians subjected to the wrath of Hamas. (2/5)

— Sara Innamorato (@Innamo) October 11, 2023

Israel declared war on the Gaza Strip this week after a surprise attack by Hamas killed over 1,200 people in Israel, including at least 260 at a crowded music festival that became the scene of one of the country’s worst civilian massacres. Hamas, the current governing body over Gaza and Palestinian territories, justified the attack on Israel over the expansion of Israeli settlements into lands Palestinians claim for a future state and other religious tensions between Muslims and Jews. Israel responded to the attacks by bombing and attacking Gaza, killing over 1,000 people so far.

The Pittsburgh chapter of the DSA released a lengthy statement Tuesday that expressed the group’s “unequivocal support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom.” The statement also mentioned mourning the loss of lives across the region and blamed the deaths on Israeli and U.S. governments. The statement did not mention Hamas.

“Violent opposition is the inevitable response to the conditions imposed by Israeli occupation. The conflict can only end if the apartheid regime is lifted from the river to the sea,” read the Pittsburgh DSA statement.

Pittsburgh DSA officials told the Tribune-Review that they stand by the statement and had no further comment when asked about Innamorato’s response.

Innamorato was first elected to the Pennsylvania state House in 2018 as a member of the Pittsburgh DSA and with the group’s endorsement. Her Republican opponent in this year’s county executive race, former PNC executive Joe Rockey, has criticized Innamorato for her affiliation with the socialist group.

She posted Wednesday that she ended her membership in 2019 and said that Rockey is “trying to score cheap political points” off of the Israel/Gaza conflict.

Innamorato’s rebuke of DSA comes as other progressive politicians are breaking with the left-wing political group over disagreements regarding the conflict.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., admonished the New York City DSA chapter after the group promoted a pro-Palestine rally in the wake of the war. A DSA-endorsed candidate for Los Angeles City Council recently rejected the group’s statement on the attacks.

There are two active DSA members running as independents for Allegheny County Council: Carl Redwood in District 10 and Sam Schmidt in District 9.

Innamorato campaign spokesman Sam Wasserman said Innamorato has not made any endorsements for county council races and doesn’t plan to make any. He said she has helped to organize with Democrat Dan Gryzbek, who is running in District 5, but not any other candidates.

When asked about the Pittsburgh DSA chapter statement on the conflict, both Redwood and Schmidt declined to comment.