U.S. House Rejects Amendment to Halt Israel Aid, Highlighting Democratic Divisions Over Gaza Conflict

By Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, July 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives rejected an amendment seeking to halt military aid to Israel, with 103 Democrats and one Republican supporting the measure, underscoring increasing tensions within the party over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The chamber voted 314-104 against the proposal, introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky as part of a State Department funding bill. The measure aimed to block $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel and restrict future aid tied to the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, which remains active until 2028.

Massie, a longtime critic of foreign aid, argued the amendment was a response to the high civilian casualties in Gaza, citing estimates of 70,000 deaths. “We cannot be complicit in this humanitarian crisis,” he stated during the debate.

Israel’s October 7, 2023, cross-border attack by Hamas-led fighters, which killed 1,200 people, prompted a subsequent Israeli military offensive in Gaza that Palestinian health authorities say has killed over 73,000. The conflict has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million residents, many now living in makeshift shelters along the coastal region.

The vote reflects a significant shift in U.S. political discourse, with progressive Democrats increasingly challenging traditional bipartisan support for Israel. Moderate party leaders, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, opposed the amendment as overly broad, while others like Representative Katherine Clark (No. 2 House Democrat) backed it, calling for accountability in military aid distribution.

The issue has emerged as a divisive topic in Democratic primaries, with candidates advocating for stricter oversight of aid and some questioning Israel’s policies. Last month, Representative Adriano Espaillat lost his primary to Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic Socialists of America member supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, highlighting the growing influence of progressive stances.

The debate is set to continue, as Michigan voters prepare for primary elections in August, where candidates will face scrutiny over their positions on U.S.-Israel relations. While the amendment’s passage would have required Senate approval and a likely presidential veto override, its defeat signals ongoing internal party disagreements over foreign policy and humanitarian concerns.

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