More than half of House Democrats vote to cut Israel aid in growing
split
[July 16, 2026]
By LISA MASCARO
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than half the House Democrats voted Wednesday to
strip $3.3 billion in U.S. aid from Israel, the most substantial signal
yet that once rock-solid bipartisan support for the country is
disintegrating in the aftermath of its war in Gaza that has killed
thousands of Palestinians.
The vote tally, 104-314, was not enough to attach the amendment to a
broader national security spending bill, but stands as a stark
accounting of the shifting attitudes that are dividing the Democratic
Party and the nation over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
war strategy, now approaching its third year.
The House's Democratic leadership split over the issue in what was
largely seen as a test vote ahead of the U.S. midterm elections that
will determine control of Congress. More than 100 Democrats voted for
the amendment to strip the foreign military aid money, and almost as
many voted against. Most Republicans voted to preserve the Israel aid.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who announced he opposed the
measure that would zero out the aid, nevertheless said “that for the
good of Israel and the Palestinian people, American policy in the Middle
East must change.”
Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues, ahead of a private caucus
meeting this week where he spoke on the issue, that he believes “there
are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it
comes to the far-right Netanyahu government.”
Democrats divided over US support for Israel
The deepening divide over Israel threatens to upend the Democratic Party
as it faces an energized left flank that is promoting self-proclaimed
democratic socialists in a handful of marquee House races, particularly
last month in New York.
While more traditional Democrats have stood with U.S. support for
Israel, a growing number have distanced themselves from Netanyahu's
strategy as the war has dragged on in a prolonged response to the Oct.
7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
The Democratic Whip, Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, announced
she would support the measure to withhold the funds.
Republicans have seized on the divide to portray Democrats as being
overtaken by their more radical far-left elements, even as House Speaker
Mike Johnson faces divisions within his own ranks as President Donald
Trump's most ardent America First Republicans lean toward less foreign
military spending.
According to an AP-NORC poll this month, about one-third of U.S. adults
— including roughly half of Democrats — believe Israel has committed
genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, an accusation
that’s been leveled by some human rights organizations and vehemently
denied by Israel and the U.S. government.
Amendment pushed forward from Rep. Thomas Massie
The amendment to strip Israel's foreign aid was offered by Rep. Thomas
Massie, the libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican who lost his own bid
for reelection after Trump backed his challenger.
[to top of second column]
|
The U.S. Capitol is seen from the Washington Monument, Thursday,
July 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
During the floor debate, Massie said the $3.3 billion could be
better spent at home on U.S. roads, bridges and veterans' needs,
especially as national deficits are on the rise. He said the
American weapons were used on “oftentimes innocent civilians.”
“I think we should stop it — we should put them on a diet,” Massie
said.
But Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, himself a former party
leader, championed longtime support of Israel and warned against
withdrawing U.S. aid.
“I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would
dangerously undermine American national security," Hoyer said. He
said it would limit the United States' ability to confront terrorist
organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, which he said “expressly
target American citizens and military personnel.”
Lawmakers under pressure as midterms near
The lawmakers were feeling pressure from all sides as they prepare
for midterm elections this fall.
The powerful American-Israel group AIPAC encouraged its supporters
to contact members of Congress to register their opposition.
"We must ensure his dangerous amendment is defeated," AIPAC said in
a statement ahead of the vote.
At the same time, the progressive advocacy organization J Street
gave lawmakers more leeway to express their views, as Jeffries did,
even as the group opposed the amendment as poorly drafted and overly
broad.
President Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement that J Street
recognizes “that, for many Democrats, this is one of the few
opportunities to cast a recorded vote expressing opposition to the
way American military assistance and American-supplied weapons have
been used by the Israeli government in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon
and elsewhere.”
He said that what unites the majority of Democrats “is far more
significant” than this vote as they work to support “the security
and rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
