The U.S. Congress has not taken a unified position on the war between Israel and Hamas, which started on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
However, individual members of Congress have expressed various views and opinions on the conflict, ranging from strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself, to calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza, to criticism of both sides for escalating the violence and violating human rights.
Some examples of the different perspectives of Congress members are:
- Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) condemned Hamas’ attack as “heinous” and urged de-escalation, saying Hamas is empowered by crisis and that war between Israel and Palestine would be “catastrophic”. He also voiced concern for the safety of “innocent civilians” in Israel and Gaza and condemned antisemitism1.
- Representative Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) appeared to reject Markey’s call for de-escalation, saying: “Now is not the time for equivocation. Hamas is an internationally recognized terrorist organization … Israel is a liberal democracy with the right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens.” He also told Politico that Israel’s anticipated invasion of Gaza is appropriate and can be conducted with “due concern” for the safety of civilians2.
- Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) accused Israel of committing “war crimes” and “ethnic cleansing” against the Palestinians, and called for the U.S. to stop providing military aid to Israel. She also introduced a resolution to sanction Israel for violating international law and human rights3.
- Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) praised Israel for its “heroic” response to Hamas’ attack, and blamed Iran for supporting and arming Hamas. He also introduced a resolution to condemn Hamas and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and sovereignty4.
The Biden Administration has stated that Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself, and has resisted calls from other international actors for an indefinite ceasefire.
However, U.S. leaders have reportedly warned Israeli counterparts that global outcry over civilian suffering could reach “a tipping point”, and have cautioned against Israeli military operations in southern Gaza unless and until Israel can demonstrate plans for protecting civilians there5.
The U.S. has also provided humanitarian assistance to Gaza through the United Nations and other partners.
To amplify information: