By Umar Farooq</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on Thursday defended a comment in which she criticized Israel years before and said she hoped people would see the country's "evil doings."</p> <p>In 2012, Omar posted a tweet regarding the Gaza War, where the Israeli Defense Force launched a week-long offensive on the Gaza Strip, leaving 174 Palestinians dead, according to the United Nations.</p> <p>"Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel," said Omar.</p> <p>The tweet resurfaced in an on-air interview with CNN, where she defended her comment.</p> <p>"I don't know how my comments would be offensive to Jewish Americans," Omar told CNN. "My comments precisely are addressing what was happening during the Gaza war, and I am clearly speaking about the way the Israeli regime was conducting itself in that war."</p> <p>Omar, alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib, are the first two Muslim women to serve in U.S. Congress.</p> <p>The representatives have been outspoken about their criticism of Israel, and have expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement which demands a boycott of Israeli companies involved in human rights violations, until the situation for Palestinians improves.</p> <p>While serving in the Minnesota legislature, Omar also reportedly voted against a bill trying to prohibit companies from doing business with entities engaging in a boycott of Israeli products.