Democrats in Congress are breaking with Israel like never before
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Sen. Chris Coons speaks at the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit in New York on Sept. 23. Photo: Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for Concordia Annual Summit
Some of Israel's staunchest Democratic supporters on Capitol Hill are wavering like never before as progressives grow more emboldened in their defense of the Palestinian cause.
Why it matters: The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza has soured U.S. public opinion on Israel, and while members of Congress have been something of a lagging indicator, they are now shifting as well.
- Centrist Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told Axios' Barak Ravid at an Axios event on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that he is open to voting to limit the sale of U.S. weapons to Israel.
- "If there is no change in direction from the Israeli administration, for the first time I would seriously consider that," said Coons, who added that he has never "voted to withhold weapons from Israel, from the IDF."
- Coons' comment comes just a month after House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) called to "leverage" arms sales to Israel to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
By the numbers: A staggering 178 of House Democrats' 212 members signed onto a Thursday letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying they are "deeply opposed" to Israeli annexation of territory in the West Bank.
- "Such a move would not only violate international law but undermine decades of bipartisan U.S. policy and threaten the progress of the Abraham Accords," the lawmakers wrote.
- The House Democrats noted that they are "long-standing supporters of the U.S.–Israel relationship" and argued annexation would further jeopardize Israel's security.
- The letter, led by staunchly pro-Israel Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), was signed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).
What they're saying: Asked about signing the letter in a Thursday gaggle on Capitol Hill, Jeffries told Axios it "speaks for itself."
- More broadly, he said, "We need to make sure we surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza ... that every single hostage is released and can come home, and we need to restore the ceasefire so we can find a path to a just and lasting peace."
Zoom in: It's not just centrists and establishment Democrats shifting. Progressives are growing more and more strident in their demands for the U.S. to support a Palestinian state.
- Forty-six House Democrats have signed on to a letter to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging them to follow the lead of the United Kingdom, France, Canada and other U.S. allies in recognizing Palestinian statehood.
- Among the signers on the letter, led by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), were Jewish Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Becca Balint (D-Vt.).
- Balint and Jewish Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) recently joined the small list of lawmakers labelling the war in Gaza a "genocide." Clark did too, though she later walked it back.
What to watch: A progressive House Democrat who spoke on the condition of anonymity said there are "more people who are thinking about" publicly calling the war a genocide because it has been "excruciating to watch."
- "And there are definitely people who won't say genocide but will tell you, 'I know you're right, but I can't use that word,'" the lawmaker said.
- They added that "even some people that would never have considered signing on to block the bombs are thinking of it."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
