House Defeats Israel Aid Cutoff as Democratic Fracture Deepens Over Gaza War

The U.S. House of Representatives voted down an amendment Wednesday that would have halted military assistance to Israel, even as more than 100 Democrats broke ranks to support the measure — underscoring a deepening divide within the party over the conduct of the war in Gaza.

The chamber rejected the proposal 314 to 104. Offered by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky as an amendment to a State Department funding bill, the measure would have barred any appropriated funds from being used for Israel and blocked the $3.3 billion in annual security assistance the United States provides under a 2016 memorandum of understanding.

One hundred three Democrats and one Republican voted in favor, a striking departure from the near-unanimous bipartisan support Israel has historically enjoyed on Capitol Hill. The split reflects competing pressures on the party: progressive lawmakers, many facing primary challenges, have called for an end to unrestricted military aid, while moderates argue assistance should be limited to defensive systems.

Massie, a fiscal conservative who opposes foreign aid broadly, said his amendment was also driven by the civilian toll of Israel’s offensive in Gaza. “There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza, and I don’t think we should be part of that,” he said during floor debate.

Shifting views on Israel

The conflict erupted after Hamas-led fighters killed 1,200 people in a cross-border attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.

Much of the enclave lies in ruins. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million residents — most displaced multiple times — are now confined to a narrow coastal strip, living largely in makeshift tents or damaged buildings.

Even if the House had approved the amendment, it would have been largely symbolic. The measure would still have needed to pass the Senate and overcome a near-certain veto from President Donald Trump, who has made unwavering support for Israel a cornerstone of his foreign policy.

Military aid to Israel and campaign contributions from pro-Israel groups have become flashpoints in Democratic primaries this cycle. The criticism from elected officials marks a dramatic shift: in September 2016, the House voted 405 to 4 to endorse the same memorandum of understanding that Massie’s amendment sought to defund.

Progressive candidates have notched upset victories by campaigning against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with some questioning the country’s right to exist. The issue has also fractured party leadership. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York announced Tuesday he would oppose the amendment, calling it “too broad.” But on Wednesday, the No. 2 House Democrat, Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, broke with him. “We should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with U.S. law, interests, and values,” she said in a statement.

Last month, veteran Rep. Adriano Espaillat lost a New York Democratic primary to Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic Socialists of America member backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who also identifies as a democratic socialist.

The party’s fissures over Israel will face another test on Aug. 4, when Michigan voters select nominees for U.S. Senate, the House, and governor in contests where U.S.-Israel relations have emerged as a central debate.

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