Media: Over 100 House Democrats back US cutting Israel aid

More than half of House Democrats voted in favor of cutting $3.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel, marking the strongest indication yet that longstanding bipartisan support for the country is facing deepening divisions amid the war in Gaza, Associated Press reports.

The amendment, which was rejected by a vote of 104-314, failed to be added to a broader national security spending bill. However, the vote highlighted a widening divide within the Democratic Party and across the United States over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military strategy as the conflict approaches its third year.

The measure triggered a rare split among Democratic leaders. While the party’s leadership was divided, more than 100 Democrats supported the amendment, and nearly as many opposed it. Most Republicans voted to maintain U.S. aid to Israel.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who opposed the proposal to eliminate the funding, said U.S. policy in the Middle East must change.

“That for the good of Israel and the Palestinian people, American policy in the Middle East must change,” Jeffries said.

In a letter to lawmakers ahead of a private caucus meeting, Jeffries said he believed “there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government.”

The debate reflected growing tensions within the Democratic Party, where a number of lawmakers have become increasingly critical of Netanyahu’s approach to the war. The Democratic Party’s progressive wing has pushed for limits on U.S. military support, while more traditional Democrats have continued to back close ties with Israel.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts supported the amendment, while former Democratic leader Steny Hoyer warned that cutting aid would harm U.S. interests.

 “I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would dangerously undermine American national security,” Hoyer said.

He argued that reducing assistance would weaken Washington’s ability to counter groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which he said “expressly target American citizens and military personnel.”

The amendment was introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who argued that the money could be better spent on domestic priorities, including infrastructure and veterans’ programs.

“I think we should stop it — we should put them on a diet,” Massie said.

The vote came as lawmakers face pressure ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Pro-Israel group AIPAC urged members of Congress to reject the amendment, while progressive group J Street said the vote reflected broader concerns over the use of U.S. weapons in Gaza.

J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami said the debate showed that many Democrats share concerns over “the way American military assistance and American-supplied weapons have been used by the Israeli government in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and elsewhere.”

By Vafa Guliyeva