The U.S. House passed a bill Saturday to allocate $26.4 billion in aid to Israel, including support for defense systems and humanitarian aid for Gaza. The bill also includes aid for Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as a push for an American company to oversee TikTok operations. The votes on aid to Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as the TikTok divestiture, had taken place earlier in the day and all passed, but the aid to Israel vote was not without controversy, with 37 Democrats voting against it.
The ongoing military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to an attack by Hamas, has killed over 34,000 people, mostly women and children. Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza have contributed to a widening famine in the region. Large protests on the left have urged President Biden to put humanitarian conditions on any aid to Israel. Progressive lawmakers like Rep. Joaquin Castro have spoken out against the aid, citing the tragedy in Gaza and the role of American weapons in the violence.
Following the vote, a group of 19 Democrats released a joint statement opposing the aid bill and calling for efforts to achieve a ceasefire and begin peace talks. The statement emphasized the importance of Israel’s right to self-defense but expressed concerns about supplying offensive weapons that could result in civilian casualties. The vote comes amid increased tensions in the region, including strikes between Israel and Iran, raising the threat of a broader war. The U.S. has urged de-escalation but it’s unclear how changing international dynamics will impact the situation.
The vote also reflects a rare show of bipartisanship in Congress, as Democrats and Republicans came together to bring aid for Ukraine to a vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced pressure from factions within his own party, including a threat from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, to avoid a vote on Ukraine aid. Some Republicans have suggested that Johnson’s bipartisan efforts could be a reason to remove him from the speakership. The vote on aid to Israel underscores the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party and the American public over support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
While there is still strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress, the aid bill for Israel has divided Democrats over concerns about the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the use of American weapons in the region. The vote on aid to Israel comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the potential for the conflict to spill over into a broader war. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense but have called for efforts to achieve a ceasefire and end the violence in Gaza through peaceful means. The aid bill’s passage reflects the challenges and complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the region.
