On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on an amendment to a State Department funding bill that proposed a prohibition on financial aid to Israel. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), failed to pass, but 103 House Democrats voted in favor of the measure. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) was among the 98 Democrats who voted against it, placing the party leadership in the minority of the caucus on this specific vote.
Lawmakers who supported the amendment cited concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some members stated that the vote reflected a shift in public opinion within their districts following recent primary elections where several pro-Israel incumbents were defeated. Justice Democrats spokesperson Usamah Andrabi attributed the vote to recent primary victories against candidates backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Opponents of the amendment noted that the measure lacked carveouts for non-military diplomatic funding. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) characterized the support for the amendment as a reaction to political pressure from the party's left wing rather than a policy-based decision. Minority Leader Jeffries, who issued a letter opposing the amendment before the vote, dismissed suggestions that he was out of step with his caucus when questioned by reporters on Thursday.