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Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., told Newsweek in an interview that his friendship with “Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Minn., was “not easy,” but noted that it was important.

“We are friends. It’s an important friendship. It’s not an easy one. I’m sure she would say the same thing,” he told Newsweek in an interview.

Phillips has been critical of the “Squad” after Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

He previously said that being a Democratic, Jewish member of Congress was “very difficult,” during an interview with Bill Maher.

“And by the way, being a Jewish member of Congress in the Democratic caucus is very difficult right now, you can imagine,” Phillips told Maher. “And there’s a seemingly a lack of progressive love when it comes to our doorstep. And it’s problematic. I know I don’t look like someone whose community might need support or affection or protection… But let me tell you… it’s a big deal.”

Phillips also told Newsweek that the Israel-Hamas conflict was “very personal” for Tlaib, because “she has a grandmother who lives in the West Bank.”

“She has Palestinian descent,” Phillips said. “I am a Jewish man. I have great affection for the Israeli people and for Jewish history. And it’s tragic what her community is facing right now, what the Jewish community is facing right now is horrifying.”

The Democratic presidential candidate added that it was time to “join hands.”

“What I’ve spoken with her about and so many others is it’s time for us to join hands. You know, take hands, take arms in that sense of togetherness, before people take arms in the terrible sense, and that’s something I want to work with her on,” Phillips said. “It doesn’t mean we see things the same way, doesn’t mean that we hurt each other’s feelings when we say things about what’s very personal. But when we withdraw from those relationships, it’s dangerous.”

Fox News’ Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.