Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Says Israel ‘As Evil as Hamas’

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, said in a CNN interview aired Sunday that he believes the Israeli government is “as evil as Hamas,” drawing sharp attention in a closely watched primary race.

“Killing tens of thousands of people makes you pretty damn evil. It’s not, ‘How evil is this one versus that one?’ Hamas — evil. Israeli government — evil. We can say both,” El-Sayed told CNN’s Manu Raju.

The remarks come as El-Sayed has emerged as a top-tier contender in the Democratic primary, highlighting a broader debate within the party over its stance toward Israel. The Michigan race, set for August 4, is increasingly viewed as a test of how Democratic voters are shifting on Israel policy.

El-Sayed, 41, is a physician and former gubernatorial candidate seeking to channel the energy of the “Uncommitted” protest movement against U.S. support for Israel. A recent poll found him tied at 24% with Mallory McMorrow, with Haley Stevens trailing and a large share of voters still undecided.

In the same interview, El-Sayed escalated his criticism, saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. “When you conduct a genocide, you’re a war criminal,” he said.

El-Sayed has also faced backlash within his own party over his decision to campaign with political streamer Hasan Piker, who himself has drawn criticism for past statements about Israel. Defending the move, El-Sayed dismissed the criticism as part of “cancel culture.”

“My understanding of America is, it’s a place where we have freedom of speech. My understanding of America is, it’s a place where we’re willing to have conversations with folks with whom we disagree,” he said.

Rival candidates have pushed back. McMorrow criticized El-Sayed’s association with Hasan Piker, while Stevens said Piker is “the exact opposite of someone I’d be campaigning with.”

Those divisions were also visible at the Michigan Democratic convention on Sunday, where Stevens was booed by a contingent of activists during her remarks, reflecting a vocal grassroots base more aligned with El-Sayed’s positions.

Jewish organizations have also expressed concern over El-Sayed’s stances. Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, called El-Sayed’s decision to platform Piker “absolutely shocking,” while other Jewish groups have warned about the normalization of rhetoric they say is tied to hostility toward Israel.

El-Sayed has also taken aim at Democratic leadership in Washington, saying Chris Van Hollen should replace Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic leader, citing Schumer’s support for U.S. aid to Israel.

The debate comes amid a broader shift among Senate Democrats. In recent days, 40 Democrats voted to block the transfer of certain equipment to Israel, with dozens also backing measures targeting additional weapons sales, the highest level of opposition within the party to date.

Michigan, home to both a large Arab American population and a significant Jewish community, has become a focal point in that debate. With the primary approaching, the race is expected to continue spotlighting divisions inside the Democratic coalition over Israel and U.S. foreign policy.