More than 100 House Democrats voted in favor of an amendment that would have eliminated approximately $3 billion in military aid to Israel, highlighting a notable shift within the party’s stance on the longstanding U.S.-Israel relationship amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. The vote took place on July 16, 2026, during debates on the annual State Department and foreign operations spending bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The proposal, introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, sought to prohibit any funding from the bill from going to Israel. It also aimed to reduce the overall Foreign Military Financing Program by $3.3 billion—the amount currently allocated in U.S. grants and loans enabling allied countries, including Israel, to purchase American weapons and defense services. The amendment ultimately failed, with 104 Democrats supporting it while 314 members of the House opposed it, including all Republicans except Massie and the Democratic leadership. Ten Democrats voted “present.”
The vote underscored growing dissatisfaction within parts of the Democratic caucus—particularly on the left—with Israel’s policies and military actions following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s subsequent operations in Gaza. Critics of Israel’s conduct have accused the government of indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas in Gaza, although official death tolls do not clearly distinguish between civilian casualties and members of Hamas.
Opinion polls over recent years indicate a shift in American public opinion, with increasing support for Palestinians compared to previous majorities favoring Israel. This evolving dynamic has had consequences in Democratic primary races, where candidates critical of Israel’s policies have gained traction and sometimes unseated incumbents.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York opposed the amendment, arguing in a letter to Democrats that there are “more decisive ways” to push for change regarding policies associated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government. Jeffries characterized the measure as a partisan effort by Republicans to expose divisions within the Democratic Party. However, party leaders did not strictly enforce party discipline to oppose the amendment.
Some prominent Democrats broke ranks with Jeffries. Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, a member of Democratic leadership, voted in favor, stating that, while not fully endorsing the amendment or the motivations behind its introduction, she believes the U.S. must reconsider its approach to military aid to Israel. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the amendment as a symbolic vote signaling a need for change.
J Street, a liberal pro-Israel advocacy group, opposed the measure but acknowledged the vote as a rare opportunity for lawmakers to express calls for more conditional aid and improved oversight of assistance provided to Israel. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut described the amendment as a “conscience vote” for many members of Congress.