Nancy Pelosi tells Israel to seek 'justice,' not ‘revenge’ after Hamas attack

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called for a "humanitarian pause" in the Israel-Hamas war, arguing that Israel deserved "justice" after the Hamas terrorist attacks but not "revenge" in a recent media appearance.

"I think the humanitarian pause is the way to go," Pelosi said in an interview on MSNBC Tuesday. "Look, what Hamas did was barbaric in Israel. It was barbaric, it was outside the circle of civilized human behavior, and if it happened to your family, you would want justice." 

"I’m not talking about revenge," Pelosi added. "I’m saying justice." 

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Pelosi rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire in the war. "So there has to be some other place we go instead of just saying ‘let’s have a ceasefire,’" she said. "We had a ceasefire in May that was broken by Hamas on Oct. 7th, so let’s remember that, but there may be a few votes in our caucus who may not support the package, but I think by and large, it will be overwhelmingly supported."

The Israeli government has rejected calls for a ceasefire that have come from some prominent American politicians, including from liberal members of Congress. 

"Until we complete our mission of dismantling Hamas, urging a ceasefire is the pro-Hamas position," Eylon Levy, an Israeli government spokesman, told Fox News Digital. "Demanding a ceasefire from Israel is saying that Hamas should get away with what it did — and should keep its ability to do it again," Levy said. 

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Some members of the far-left "Squad," including Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa, have argued for a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

"I hope and pray that when we exit this crisis, we will be able to say resoundingly, yes, we did enough because we spoke through the noise, and we stood firmly in our belief that all lives do matter — as they said when it was our turn — and that each and every one of them is precious," Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., told those in attendance.

Her comments drew smiles and nods of approval from Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., two fellow "Squad" members, who stood behind her as she spoke.

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Pelosi also spoke out on the Republican Speaker's race. "We just have to get a speaker on the Republican side," she said. "They won, they got the confidence of the American people, now they should show they’re worthy of that confidence by at least electing a leader, a speaker, so that we can conduct the business of Congress, and that includes coming forth with this package and then keeping government open after that."

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Fox News' Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.