Congressional tide changing on Israel? House GOP begins to be more critical of long-time ally

While Republicans have traditionally been more supportive of Israel than their Democratic counterparts, members of the House GOP have become more critical of the country in recent months, especially since reports are emerging about the recent starvation of civilians in Gaza. 

The most recent war in Gaza began after the terrorist group Hamas launched a murderous attack on an Israeli music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, and left 1,200 people dead and more than 250 people taken hostage, some of whom were reportedly raped and tortured. The war has been ongoing amid attempts by the U.S. and other countries to end it. 

More than 30 other countries issued a joint statement last week, calling for an immediate end to the war and the release of all remaining hostages.

Trump on images of starving children: "You can't fake that"

In recent days, there have been reports of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza with many innocent civilians, including children, starving. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied there was starvation taking place in Gaza, contradicting President Donald Trump's take on the matter.

Accurate information is difficult to come by, because many legacy media platforms rely on "official" information from the Gazan Health Ministry, which is an arm of Hamas. Nonetheless, members of various NGO's appear to confirm — to one degree or another — the size and scope of human suffering.

"Based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry," Trump said Monday, later adding, "There is real starvation in Gaza — you can't fake that."

Following the starvation reports, some GOP House members began to be more critical of Israel as opposed to offering unconditional support. 

Humanitarian aid and eliminating Hamas not mutually exclusive

"I can unequivocally say that what happened to innocent people in Israel on Oct 7th was horrific," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote on X. "Just as I can unequivocally say that what has been happening to innocent people and children in Gaza is horrific. This war and humanitarian crisis must end!"

Congressman Lance Gooden, R-Texas., delivered a similar sentiment. 

"Standing with Israel means eliminating every barbaric Hamas terrorist," Gooden said on social media. "It also means rejecting the killing and starvation of children in Gaza. We must allow aid to enter Gaza. Ending this hunger crisis will not only spare the lives of children but will strip Hamas of its ability to use innocent children as pawns in their depraved acts of barbarism."

In May, Congressman Thomas Massie, R-Ky., spoke out about the mass civilian casualties in Gaza as a result of the war. "Nothing can justify the number of civilian casualties (tens of thousands of women and children) inflicted by Israel in Gaza in the last two years," he said. "We should end all U.S. military aid to Israel now."

Collateral damage criticized

Some of Israel's military actions have been criticized after an unintended stray ammunition strike on Gaza's only Catholic Church, earlier this month, killing three people. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Netanyahu told Trump the attack “was a mistake by the Israelis.”

When another church was hit in Gaza, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said that she reached out to the Israeli government to get more answers. "A few months back, I asked the Israeli government directly about a prior strike that hit a Christian church in Gaza," Luna wrote on X. "I also reached out to the Gov. of Syria regarding the strike a few days ago."

Meanwhile, other Republicans, such as Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., have not wavered in their support at all when it comes to Israel. 

It was reported by ABC News last week that 15 people died from famine and malnutrition in Gaza. Fine responded to this news in social media, saying "Release the hostages. Until then, starve away. (This is all a lie anyway. It amazes me that the media continues to regurgitate Muslim terror propaganda.)"

Fine was elected in a special election to Florida's sixth congressional district to replace Mike Waltz, who was appointed to serve as Trump's national security adviser before being reassigned to a different position. Florida GOP candidate Aaron Baker, who is running against Fine in the primary, criticized that statement.

"I do NOT support starving children @RepFine," he wrote on X. "I do NOT support punishing citizens for having the worst government in existence. IT IS MY GOAL TO MAKE YOU A 1 TERM CONGRESSMAN. If you agree, please consider supporting me to represent FL-6."

Democrats in the House have been critical of the situation in Gaza, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also a New York Democrat. Jeffries called for the ceasefire deal under former President Joe Biden to be reinstated. 

"It is imperative that humanitarian aid be surged into Gaza immediately, the remaining Israeli hostages be released and the ceasefire negotiated by the Biden administration restored," Jeffries said in a press release. "We need a just and lasting peace."

"The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable," Jeffries also said. "The Trump administration has the ability to bring an end to this humanitarian crisis. They must act now." That press release also called for a "two-state solution," a position which many geopolitical observers and diplomats have found an almost impossible sell.