The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to support Israel and condemn Hamas in its first legislative action in more than three weeks, but a handful of Democrats voted against the resolution.
In a vote of 412-10-6, the House of Representatives expressed support for the Israelis after Hamas launched an attack that killed 1,400 and took more than 200 hostage.
But progressives have criticized Israel’s aggressive and much deadlier response aimed at rooting out Hamas.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., Al Green, Texas, André Carson, Ind., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Delia Ramirez, D -Ill., Summer Lee, Pa., all voted against the resolution.
Ilhan Omar, center, voted against the resolution
Representatives Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib also opposed the resolution
Six other Democrats voted “present” and took no position either way: Reps. Joaquin Castro, Texas, Chuy Garcia, Illinois, Greg Casar, Texas, Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts, and Pramila Jayapal, Washington.
One Republican – Rep. Thomas Massie, Ky. – also voted against the resolution.
He said on X that he was against it because “it requires sanctions against a sovereign country. Sanctions are a harbinger of war and harm the country’s citizens more than the government of the country being sanctioned.”
He also opposed the resolution’s commitments on foreign aid and the “unlimited promise of military assistance so broad that it could be interpreted to tie American soldiers to the conflict.”
The resolution reaffirms the “US commitment to Israel’s security, including through security assistance” and calls on all countries to “unequivocally condemn Hamas’ brutal war.”
A victim covered in blood is seen after being pulled from the rubble in the town of Khan Yunis, Gaza, where some buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged during Israeli airstrikes on October 26, 2023
A view of the area in the town of Khan Yunis, Gaza, where some buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged during Israeli airstrikes on October 26, 2023
A view of the area in the town of Khan Yunis, Gaza, where some buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged during Israeli airstrikes on October 26, 2023
It also criticizes Iran for “support for terrorist groups and allies, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad” and demands “full enforcement” of sanctions against Iran.
According to Gaza officials, about 7,000 people were killed in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza in the aftermath of the attack, including nearly 3,00 children.
The Israeli army launched a ground invasion last night to attack Hamas with tanks.
In a joint statement, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said the right to self-defense does not justify Israel breaking the law and violating the rights of Palestinians. They condemned what they saw as forced displacement and collective punishment in the Gaza Strip.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also introduced a resolution to censure Tlaib over her claim last week that Israel bombed a hospital despite signals from U.S. intelligence that it was the result of a failed Hamas rocket.
The bombings resulted in hundreds of deaths.
She accused Tlaib of inciting an “insurrection,” referring to last week’s pro-Palestinian protest on Capitol Hill.
Hundreds of protesters swarmed the Capitol campus last week to demand a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian territory, and more than 300 were arrested. Tlaib spoke during the protest.