The U.S. passed a bill allocating $26.4 billion in aid to Israel, including funding for the country’s defense systems. The aid package also includes over $9 billion in humanitarian aid and refugee assistance intended for Gaza. The bill was part of a larger package that included aid for Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as a push to have an American company oversee TikTok operations. While aid for Ukraine and Taiwan passed without issue, 37 Democrats voted against aid to Israel, highlighting the division within the Democratic Party over President Joe Biden’s support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which was sparked by an attack from Hamas, has resulted in significant casualties, with over 34,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza have contributed to a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region, prompting calls for Biden to put conditions on aid to Israel. Progressive groups and demonstrators have been advocating for a more balanced approach to the conflict and for the U.S. to prioritize humanitarian concerns.
Ahead of the vote, Rep. Joaquin Castro voiced his opposition to the bill, citing the indiscriminate use of American weapons by Netanyahu’s government and the resulting devastation in Gaza. Castro, along with 18 other Democrats who voted against the aid, released a statement calling for the U.S. to help Israel find a path to peace and urging a ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid and peace talks. The dissenting Democrats reiterated their support for Israel’s right to self-defense but expressed concerns about supplying offensive weapons that could increase civilian casualties.
The vote on the aid package to Israel comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, including exchanges of strikes between Israel and Iran, raising concerns about the potential for a broader conflict. The U.S. has publicly called for de-escalation, but it remains uncertain how it will leverage its influence as a key ally to Israel or how shifting international dynamics will impact the situation in Gaza. The vote also follows rare bipartisan cooperation in the House, with Democrats supporting House Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to bring aid for Ukraine to the floor for a vote, despite internal pressure within the Republican Party to avoid a vote on aid to Ukraine.
The bipartisanship displayed in passing aid for Ukraine may have consequences for Speaker Johnson, who faced threats from members of his own party, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, for allowing the aid vote. Some Republicans have suggested that Johnson’s willingness to work across party lines could be reason enough for his removal from the speakership. The aid package to Israel, amidst ongoing conflict and humanitarian concerns in Gaza, highlights the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the region and the challenges of balancing strategic alliances with humanitarian obligations.
