More than half of House Democrats vote to cut Israel aid

Key Points:

• Over half of House Democrats (104 members) voted to strip $3.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel, signaling a significant shift in bipartisan support amid the ongoing Gaza war and its humanitarian toll.
• The amendment, introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, failed to pass with a 104-314 vote but highlighted deep divisions within the Democratic Party, with leadership split and an energized progressive left pushing for changes in U.S. policy toward Israel.
• Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries opposed the amendment but acknowledged the need for a shift in U.S. Middle East policy, while others, including Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, supported withholding funds.
• Republicans largely opposed cutting aid, framing the Democratic divide as evidence of far-left influence, even as some conservative Republicans also question foreign military spending.
• The vote comes amid heightened pressure on lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections, with advocacy groups like AIPAC strongly opposing the amendment and progressive groups like J Street offering more nuanced support for expressing dissent on U.S. aid to Israel.