Hakeem Jeffries says he will oppose bid to cut off Israel aid

[demmiblue]

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told fellow Democrats Tuesday he will oppose an amendment aimed at cutting off U.S. aid to Israel, wading directly into a contentious issue that is dividing the party.

Jeffries announced his position in a “Dear Colleague” letter circulated Tuesday and later spoke about his opposition during a morning caucus meeting.

The amendment to the fiscal 2027 spending bill for the State Department and overseas programs was introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and could come up for a vote in the coming days. It has sharply divided the party for weeks, with progressives calling for an end to America’s financial support for Israel as leadership-aligned members warned that the measure could also cut off aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Jeffries said the amendment is “overly broad in that it prohibits or would limit the use of funds for longstanding initiatives related to humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building and U.S. Embassy operations.” He added that the measure would also restrict U.S. capabilities to “confront Hamas.”

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/14/congress/hakeem-jeffries-israel-aid-00996273

[walkingman]

1. Any further funding by the US should include strict conditions....

among them to reduce civilian casualties, follow international law, and move toward a two-state solution.

[yardwork]

21. That is the best solution.

Cutting off all aid "to Israel" is overly broad and, if implemented, would probably guarantee the annihilation of millions of people of all faiths and cultures. It would probably mean the annihilation of everybody in Gaza, too. It would hand control of an entire region to authoritarian monarchies with horrible human rights policies.

On the other hand, giving aid to Israel can definitely come with some strings. Way more strings than TrumpCo is currently imposing.

[AZLD4Candidate]

55. Since there are two sides to every fight, can we require the elected hamas government to

stop targeting art festivals, disarm and stop attacking Jews, and de-escalate from the call for genocide that "from the river to the sea" has been for fifty years?

Or is all on Israel's shoulders? Inquiring minds want to know.

[angrychair]

57. Well

Hamas is in the process of dissolving its government and handing it over to the UN.
I'm sure there is still some kinks to work out but it's a step in the right direction.
Reference: https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-palestinians-hamas-war-government-146f9a609580d4c8c42ab35fbe60d5b3


Probably would help if
1) Israel stopped bombing people

2) Holding US members of Congress hostage

[walkingman]

58. My post is about US taxpayer funding of Israel. I don't think we are funding Hamas or Palestine?

Nobody thinks that Hamas should terrorize Israel any more than anyone thinks that Israel should terrorize the West Bank or Gaza.

Neither Palestine not Israel can assassinate their way to peace - it has never worked. There has to be a diplomatic solution.

[Ritabert]

2. To be expected from Jeffries.

[PSPS]

3. Is he on the hook to AIPAC?

[Rob H.]

18. Yes, to the tune of $1.5 million from AIPAC and other pro-Israel PACs nt

[Quiet Em]

4. Many Congresspersons have said it is poorly written and could unintentionally prevent humanitarian aid to the region

It needs to be more carefully rewritten.

[fujiyamasan]

7. If it's written by Massie that's likely intentional

[yaesu]

5. This will really help voter turnout this November, you betcha

it has zero chance of passing no matter how many times it's revised, too much Israeli bribe money flooding Congress.

[leftstreet]

6. LOL n/t

[dem4decades]

8. Time to get the leadership away from NY politicians.

[AloeVera]

9. Straight from the mouth of Netanyahu.

"If you don't give me money I'll make the Palestinians suffer more".

Empty threat anyway. Israel does fuck-all to help Palestinians or engage in "peace building". Lol.

Quelle surprise.

[Buckeyeblue]

10. I don't think completely cutting off Isreal is the right policy either

Unfortunately we don't have a strong state department right now to really negotiate with Isreal.

[yardwork]

22. That's the understatement of the century!

[Ars Longa]

37. Israel needs New, Honest, and more Moderate Leadership- that does not look like

Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2026, 06:03 PM - Edit history (1)

it is on the horizon!!

[Autumn]

11. Does Israel need assistance with initiatives related with humanitarian aid, and refugee resettlement?

As for "peace building"? That's a fucking joke. Please enlighten me Mr. Jeffries.

[EdmondDantes_]

17. The definitely do, starting with learning what those words mean

Granted our current administration isn't able to properly define those terms either, but Israel definitely needs some help on that front.

[David__77]

12. US aid helps create refugees and facilitates Israeli settlement.

[RT Atlanta]

13. idiots...

turn off the damn spigot to the israeli government

[Emile]

14. Israel doesn't need aid. They have Universal Healthcare, we don't!

[yardwork]

25. We could easily afford universal healthcare.

It's not cost that is stopping us. In fact, universal healthcare would save us billions in administrative costs alone. Factor in the value of having a healthier population - especially healthier children - and the savings would reach trillions.

Health economists have been saying this for 60+ years but we don't do things in the U.S. just because they're supported by science and math.

Far from it, these days.

Cutting off aid to the middle east will not bring us universal healthcare any more than Brexit brought Britain more money for their healthcare system. The promises about Brexit were calculated lies. Don't fall for it here.

[3_Limes]

15. I wish I undersood every little nuance of this issue but I don't.

So I don't want to take a "cut it ALL off, now!" stance. But I'm just not there. I have ZERO patience left for these butchers and I don't want them getting one fucking dollar for ANYTHING! They've repeatedly shown themselves to be unworthy of our support and I want that support withdrawn today

I wish I could be more circumspect about this, but genocide can't be supported in any way. I want the perpetrators cast out of society and starved.

[yardwork]

23. This bill would not achieve peace or stop any butchery.

Since Trump was reelected we have fewer options than ever, and this is not a good one.

[mike_c]

31. but it would limit our direct complicity in that butchery

That's a foundational condition we need to have for our elected leaders. No more military aid for apartheid and genocide. No more military assistance for land theft from Palestinians. No more military aid to support ethnic cleansing, in Israel or anywhere else!

[yardwork]

32. No. It would not accomplish any of those goals.

[AloeVera]

33. It would stop the butchery of bombing.

That's all Israel does. Bomb, bomb, bomb.

And guess what? Israel does not make its own bombs but relies on the U.S.

So unless you think indiscriminate, widespread bombing of cities and civilians is NOT butchery, your claim is false.

[yardwork]

34. No.

[dalton99a]

16. Let Netanyahu pay for his own wars.

[Jack Valentino]

19. and how much of this aid does Israel redirect to building BOMBS to continue their GENOCIDE in GAZA ?

Whatever aid we give them that actually goes to good purposes, enables them to build more bombs with other money they have....

I am against continuing any financial aid to Israel for ANY purported purpose,
for the time being---- so this statement from Jeffries lessens him, in my personal opinion...

Better for him to just keep his mouth shut. Vote against it, fine---
but to announce his opposition as such, in an attempt to steer Democratic House members,
lessens my support for him as the next House Speaker,
presuming we WILL win House control this year...

[AloeVera]

24. All of the 3.8 B aid goes to purchasing weapons from the U.S..

3.3b for offensive weapons including bombs and 500m for Iron Dome.

Jeffries' statement is revealing indeed and raises a lot of questions. See post #20.

[Jack Valentino]

26. Thank you!

[AloeVera]

20. None of the $3.8 billion in annual aid us earmarked for humanitarian aid etc

It's all for purchase of WEAPONS.

Is Jeffries saying that unless the U.S. continues giving weapons to Israel, Israel will jeopardize initiatives benefitting Palestinians it doesn't even pay for?

That's a form of blackmail and submitting to it is a terrible look.

And what "refugee resettlent" is he talking about? The rebuilding of Gaza falls under the Gaza Peace Plan, to be paid for mostly by Arab nations. Israel has not been asked to pay a dime, as far as I know. Is there something we don't know about? Where will Palestinians be "resettled"?

[mike_c]

27. that's why we need new, better repesentation

At this point, Jefferies is more deeply committed to Israel and the military industrial complex than he is to American democratic values. Clue: apartheid and genocide are not democratic values.

[sop]

28. Conditions? Netenyahu wouldn't abide by them, and Trump wouldn't hold him to them.

[LuvLoogie]

29. His stated reasons are bullshit.

Cutting off aid to Israel wouldn't impede the U. S.' ability to do any of those things separately.

WTF

Stand for Justice. It's not that complicated.

[Boo1]

30. Good

Cutting off Israeli aide, especially weapons sales, would be foolish.

[CrimsonBight]

39. Yeah, nothing gets the base fired up for the midterms...

...like more dead Palestinian kids.

[Boo1]

40. In a war that Israel didn't start

The Palestinians have never been worried about killing Israeli kids.

If the base wants to vote on gaza then they'll get what they deserve I guess.

[sarisataka]

35. Well that answers the question

How do you get progressives to support a Republican's initiative?

Once again Palestinians are caught in the middle as pawns everyone is willing to sacrifice

the measure could also cut off aid to Palestinians in Gaza

"because Israel"

[AloeVera]

43. Concern for Palestinians as pawns, by those opposing this amendment, is very touching.

As touching as the "concern" shown by the same group over two years of genocide.

And about as real.

Besides, the baseless and disingenuous claim that stopping bombs would lead to more Palestinian suffering in the form of reduced humanitarian aid is very similar to Israel's gaslighting "clarifying and explaining" tactics that enabled the genocide in the first place.

[sarisataka]

44. I have spoken for the Palestinian people since the beginning

that they are caught between to forces that have no concern for their welfare. Also that other Arab countries support is not much more than lip service- note how Egypt kept the border closed rather than let Palestinians escape Israel/Hamas. I spoke of the inevitable harm that Palestinians would suffer because those against "Killer Kamala" and "Genocide Joe" felt it was more important to "teach Democrats a lesson".

This amendment is not about weapons aid given to Israel but about other aid, including humanitarian- but you know that.
The Palestinians are used as pawns by all- including those who speak of genocide. Opposing Israel is more important than the welfare of Palestinians.

[AloeVera]

46. Pls show me where this is about humanitarian aid.

Your claim is absurd.

This is strictly about cutting off military aid.

But since you made the absurd claim, please back it up.

[sarisataka]

47. The excerpt is per Rep Jefferies in the post you replied to

Are you saying he is wrong about the legislation?

[AloeVera]

49. His interpretation is wrong.

And it's a bad look for him. Bad look for Democratic leadership. But you know that.
Peace.

[Quiet Em]

51. Jeffries interpretation is not wrong and he is far from the only Democrat raising concerns about it.

This bill will also never pass the Republican House, the Republicans will probably not even bring it to the floor, and if the Republicans did bring it to the floor their sole reason would be to create divisions within the Democratic Party and their voters. It's a poorly written bill written by a Republican who is on his way out the door and it has more harmful consequences than merely cutting off all military aid to Israel.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

54. Thanks.

[AloeVera]

59. The intent is clearly to cut off military aid. The fact that it is a Republican putting it forward looks terrible.

Democrats should have done it first. Now they are looking like followers or, if they vote it down, they will be painted as "Israel First" and supporters of genocide.

As for "harmful consequences" that is going to sound like spin and CYA. The Democratic base is not stupid and neither are DU'ers as shown by the responses here.

[Quiet Em]

60. Massie's intent is not that clear nor well thought out.

Democcrats don't control the House. Until Democrats control the House any attempt at cutting off military aid to Israel is futile. Democrats could absolutely put forth a bill stripping military aid to Israel but it will not pass this Republican House. Massie's bill is political theatre.

The Democratic base and Democrats are not stupid and this Massie bill is nothing more than theatre.

[AloeVera]

61. Democrats want their leadership to take a STAND.

That's their job. And their stand better align with the 90% of the base that wants military funding cut. Anything less will spell disaster.

[Quiet Em]

62. Democrats can't do anything in a Republican controlled House.

Most of the base is very aware of this and knows that we need to vote to give Democrats back control of the House. Any voter not working towards giving Democrats and Democratic leaders back control of the House will continue to add to the disaster that we are all in.

[Beringia]

36. Looks like another dilemma for the Democrats and AIPAC

[CrimsonBight]

38. Disappointing, but not surprising.

[B.See]

41. Relates to what I wrote several days ago

about mixed messaging and monied influence.

When pro-Netanyahu money flows thru your pockets (I say pro Netanyahu instead of pro-Israel because, imo, the two are not synonymous), it tends to lessen (my) faith in what you have to say on the subject.

And with regard to "aid and assistance," I can only judge by what I've seen so far.

[LuvLoogie]

42. Israel doesn't need our aid. Gaza does. Lebanon does. The countries that had USAID

funding cut by this bigoted band of rapist addicts need our aid.

We have to stop perpetrating/subsidizing ethnic cleansing one of these centuries.

One can hope, sorta.

[Takket]

45. "Hey you know that thing that so enraged millions of voters that they re-elected the worst president in history?"

"Yeah, let's keep doing that."

[QueerDuck]

48. He's a smart man. I trust his judgement.

He's very level-headed and is not the type of man who allows emotions to take over critical thinking. I admire him very much.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

52. I trust him too.

His words have often been misrepresented.

I wonder why.

[hatrack]

50. Endless, blind support of Israel - the ultimate Forever War.

Take a few minutes to read the room, Hakeem.

[PufPuf23]

56. Jefferies continues to dampen the Democratic prospects

in the 2026 midterms and 2028 POTUS and other elections.

The Democratic Party is divided over the Middle East.

Party leadership and mega donors are out of step with a majority of Democratic voters.

Money for some over prosperity for all.

War before peace, same as ever.