House Democratic leaders split over U.S. aid to Israel as public opinion shifts

Middle East ConflictHouse Democratic leaders split over U.S. aid to Israel as public opinion shiftsA measure by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie to cut off U.S. assistance to Israel has sparked a rare division by the chamber’s No. 1. and No. 2 Democrats, Hakeem Jeffries and Katherine Clark.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00An Israeli strike Sunday on an industrial area in Gaza City.Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 15, 2026, 2:52 PM EDTBy Scott Wong, Sahil Kapur and Kyle StewartWASHINGTON — House Democrats are deeply divided over a vote to end U.S. aid for Israel — an intraparty fight, which has now split the party’s top two leaders.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The rare public disagreement at the party’s highest levels highlights deep turmoil among lawmakers and the party base about how to handle U.S. relations with Israel. It pits a rising progressive wing calling for cutting off assistance to Israel, at least until the Netanyahu government changes its approach to Gaza, against center-left Democrats who are deeply reluctant to upend the U.S.’s decades-long alliance with Israel.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., indicated that he will vote against an amendment by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that would cut off aid to Israel, calling the measure “overly broad.”House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the No. 2 Democrat, broke with Jeffries, saying hours before the Wednesday afternoon vote that she will support it.Despite her reservations, Clark said Wednesday, “It is clear that the status quo is not tenable,” and added: “We should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with U.S. law, interests, and values.”“The Netanyahu government has failed to meet that standard. I will be voting yes, not because I agree with the entirety of the amendment, or the GOP’s cynical motivations for its conside...