Michigan Gov. Whitmer won't weigh in on whether Israel's war in Gaza is 'genocide'

Lansing — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined during an interview Sunday to use the word "genocide" to describe Israel's war in Gaza, saying a "a lot of these terms are used to inflame and divide us."

The comments from Whitmer, the top Democrat in a state with a large Arab American population, conflicted with past statements made by some prominent Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts.

Whitmer appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday when host Kristen Welker asked the governor if she believes what is happening in Gaza is a genocide.

"I am not going to weigh in where I know that a lot of these terms are used to inflame and divide us," Whitmer replied. "I am going to stay focused on ... being productive and hoping that we can have some peace very soon."

On Oct. 7, Hamas launched a strike inside Israel, the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust.

Since Israel's responding offensive began, more than 33,000 Palestinians, many of whom are Muslim, have died, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel officials have said they have killed about 12,000 militants without providing evidence.

On Sunday, Whitmer said it was heartbreaking to see the loss of "so many innocent lives."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told a Senate panel last week that the Pentagon had no evidence that Israel was carrying out a genocide against Palestinians, according to The New York Times.

Much of Whitmer's interview on Sunday focused on the topic of abortion. Last week, Republican former President Donald Trump said he believes abortion limits should be left to the states.

But Whitmer, a supporter of abortion rights, said it was because of Trump that the U.S. Supreme Court had struck down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which had protected access to abortion nationally and that some states had enacted bans on abortion.

"As I speak to people in my state or around the country, it's very clear abortion is not just on the ballot in places like Arizona and Florida. It's on the ballot in all 50 states," Whitmer said.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

Staff Writers Marnie Muñoz and Melissa Nann Burke contributed.