House Defeats Amendment to Cut $3.3 Billion in Israel Aid

The U.S. House of Representatives defeated an amendment on Wednesday to block approximately $3.3 billion in annual military aid to Israel. Proposed by Republican Representative Thomas Massie, the measure sought to eliminate funding established in a 2016 Memorandum of Understanding. The amendment failed in a 314-104 vote, with Massie serving as the only Republican to support the cut.

While the measure failed, the vote revealed a significant internal divide among Democrats. A total of 103 Democrats voted to strip the aid, outnumbering the 98 Democrats who voted against the measure. This represents a sharp increase in opposition compared to similar votes two years ago. High-ranking officials split on the issue: House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the cut, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed it, calling the amendment overly broad.

Supporters of the cut, including members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, argued that the U.S. should stop providing a blank check to the government of Benjamin Netanyahu amid the civilian toll in Gaza. Conversely, Jeffries and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee characterized the amendment as a dangerous political stunt that would undermine national security. Separately, Vice President JD Vance accused the Israeli government of attempting to derail peace negotiations with Iran.