The House of Representatives recently passed a $26 billion foreign aid bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, funding Israel and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. This bill caused polarization among the most right and left-wing members of Congress, with the former upset about aid to Gaza and the latter opposing additional aid to Israel. The measure passed by a vote of 366 to 58, and the chamber applauded after its passage. The bill also prohibits funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which some claim has ties to Hamas. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., celebrated the bill’s passage as a victory amidst a highly fractured political environment. This bill was part of a larger set of foreign aid bills totaling $95 billion, which also included aid for Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and national security priorities.
The vote on the foreign aid bill comes as tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran, are escalating. A war is ongoing between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas, with Israel conducting limited strikes against Iran in retaliation for airstrikes fired by Tehran. No significant damage or casualties were reported from these incidents. The issue of Israel has been divisive for Democrats, with a growing faction of left-wing lawmakers criticizing Israel’s response to Hamas attacks on October 7. Meanwhile, Republicans have stood united in backing Israel and its conservative government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Previous bills funding Israel were not taken up by the Senate, prompting fiscal conservatives to criticize the lack of offsets and funding for Gaza in this latest bill.
During the debate on the bill, tensions flared as Rep. Andrew Clyde, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, expressed serious concerns about the supplemental foreign aid bill. He voiced his support for Israel as a crucial ally but criticized the bill for adding $26 billion in debt without any offsets. Clyde also highlighted the inclusion of $400 million for FEMA, which he argued was unrelated to supporting Israel, and over $9 billion for humanitarian aid in Gaza and the West Bank. He referenced a report from the Heritage Foundation that stated Hamas and other terrorist groups control the flow of international humanitarian aid in Gaza, suggesting that U.S. taxpayer-funded aid could be diverted to support further attacks on Israel.
Despite the opposition from some conservative members, the $26 billion foreign aid bill passed in the House with strong bipartisan support, with 366 votes in favor. The bill provides funding for Israel and humanitarian aid to Gaza, though it was met with criticism from fiscal conservatives for adding to the national debt and lacking any offsets. Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated the bill’s passage as a victory for navigating a politically fractured environment. The bill also excludes funding for UNRWA, a Palestinian refugee agency accused of having ties to Hamas. The vote on the bill comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran, with Israel conducting strikes in retaliation for Iranian airstrikes. The issue of Israel continues to be divisive among lawmakers, with the House GOP standing united in support of Israel while some Democrats criticize Israel’s response to Hamas attacks.
