The mounting civilian casualties in Gaza as Israel wages its war against Hamas is widening a divide within the Democratic Party, with some members freshly critical of the Jewish state as Congress weighs further foreign aid.
Following the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion by Hamas, most Democrats declared unswerving support for Israel. However, the rising death toll, compounded by the seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen killed by an Israeli airstrike on Monday, has led some congressional Democrats to rethink unconditional aid.
The growing Democratic frustrations with how Israel is conducting its war have become political fodder for Republicans, who remain adamant that the United States should allow Israel to battle Hamas as it sees fit. However, the shift also has legislative implications for how Congress considers foreign aid for Israel, but also Ukraine’s war with Russia.
The Israeli airstrike that killed World Central Kitchen aid workers has led some Democrats to call on the Biden administration to draw a harder line with Israel, with one saying that it’s time to “pull the plug on unconditional aid.”
“They have not been good stewards of our money,” a pro-Israel House Democrat told Axios.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), one of President Joe Biden’s strongest Democratic allies in the Senate, said on Thursday that he thinks “we’re at that point” to have a change in U.S. policy regarding military aid to Israel.
The president demanded a change in Israel’s war operations in a Thursday phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, prompting Israel to open up new routes for humanitarian aid and take quick disciplinary action following the airstrike, which Israeli officials say was an accident.
But the latest deaths could increase Democratic resolve in Congress to codify conditions on the aid as well. It also puts to the fore their demand that humanitarian aid in Gaza be part of any foreign aid bill, something Republicans have resisted.
Eight House Democrats sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Tuesday asking him to include $9.16 billion in aid to Ukraine and Gaza, as well as other countries experiencing violent conflicts.
“By abdicating this responsibility, our nation would allow unstable areas around the world to grow even more volatile — fueling threats to our security,” the members said.
The Senate already passed further Israel aid, pairing it with money for Ukraine and Pacific allies in a 70-29 vote in February. However, the legislation has been held up in the House due to Republican skepticism over the conflict in Ukraine, plus a demand for border security measures.
Johnson has attempted to separate the Ukraine aid from money for Israel, judging that the two were paired together as a way to pressure House Republicans. A previous stand-alone bill, which would have provided $17.6 billion in aid, failed to pass under suspension in February.
By and large, Democrats have opposed this approach. However, the party could rethink that strategy as the idea of Israel aid becomes more toxic and it becomes likely that Republicans will give Ukraine aid a vote on the House floor.
Senior House Democrats are reportedly encouraging leadership to separate Ukraine aid into a stand-alone bill, a Democratic aide told Semafor.
“Some in the [Democratic] caucus think that there are enough House Republicans that privately support Ukraine that a stand-alone [bill] might pass,” a Democratic aide told the Washington Examiner. “Assuming they’re right, then we aren’t opposed to splitting up the bill.”
Democrats have pumped the brakes on an Israel stand-alone bill in recent weeks. Ahead of recess, several Democrats told the Washington Examiner that they believe aid to Ukraine is “more urgent” given and that the country is set to run out of equipment by the end of April, according to Rules Committee ranking member Jim McGovern (D-MA).
McGovern has a discharge petition to bring the Senate’s foreign aid bill to the House floor. However, the petition has 191 signatures and has not yet reached the minimum of 218 signatures required to push it to a vote due to progressive opposition. House GOP leaders have previously declared the Senate’s supplemental as dead on arrival due to its lack of border security measures.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter sent to members on Friday, Schumer said he spoke with Johnson and believes the speaker “understands the threat of further delaying the national security supplemental.”
“However, Speaker Johnson has to ultimately decide for himself whether or not he will do the right thing for Ukraine,” Schumer wrote, calling for Johnson and House GOP leaders to bring the supplemental to the floor.
A bipartisan group of representatives is looking to find a compromise through its own discharge petition. Led by Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Ed Case (D-HI), the petition’s original goal is to force the Senate supplemental legislation with aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, to the floor but also include border security provisions.
The text and framework are not finalized, and the lawmakers have said they will make any changes to get the necessary support. Fitzpatrick told the Washington Examiner previously that though the petition is open and ready for signatures, they will not be lobbying for them until there is a clear framework. The petition has 16 signatures.
Bacon said in an interview with the Washington Examiner that the goal is to give leadership the ability to amend and get it “blessed” by top leaders to bring it to the floor. He said reaching the 218-signature threshold is doable.
The Nebraska congressman said the speaker is weighing different avenues as they work on the bill.
“I know, when I spoke to the speaker, he was interested in the REPO Act, reclaiming some of the Russian assets and using that to pay for this,” Bacon said. “I know he’s interested in some lend-lease type language, which we’re game for that.
“And I also fully agree with him that we shouldn’t just give a blank check to the White House,” Bacon added, saying he’s “amenable” to whatever Johnson needs to do to get the bill passed.
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Bacon echoed comments made by McGovern, stating that foreign aid is necessary because “it’s possible that the Russians could be in Kyiv, you know, by January.
“And that’s unacceptable,” Bacon said.
Cami Mondeaux contributed to this report.