Ocasio-Cortez says she’ll vote against any military aid to Israel, including for Iron Dome system

By Arit John, CNN

(CNN) — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday she would vote against sending any military aid to Israel, including defensive supplies, a marked shift from a Democrat deemed a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

Ocasio-Cortez told members of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America Tuesday that she would commit to voting no on any military aid spending for Israel, a spokesperson for the lawmaker told CNN.

Her remarks, first reported by City & State, were made at a private forum as members considered whether to endorse her re-election bid.

Her comments come at a time when the Democratic Party is taking on a more critical stance toward the Israeli government and pro-Israel lobbying groups that have spent millions against Democratic candidates who support conditioning aid to Israel.

But many of the party’s best-known officials are still grappling with how to raise their criticisms. California Gov. Gavin Newsom last month backtracked on his recent comments describing Israel as “sort of an apartheid state.” He later told Politico that he meant to say he was concerned Israel would go down that path under the “direction of the far right that [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] is indulging.”

Ocasio-Cortez has been one of Israel’s sharpest critics in the House, though her approach to defensive aid has wavered over the years. In 2021, she voted “present” on a bill for additional funding for Israel’s Iron Dome, its missile defense system, and said she opposed it. In 2024, Ocasio-Cortez signed onto a letter with progressive lawmakers who said they opposed sending offensive weapons to Israel but “support strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems.”

In a statement Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez said allies who need military aid “must understand that we will provide it consistent with the Leahy amendment,” which prohibits sending assistance to foreign security units that have committed human rights violations. Israel has denied allegations from human rights groups that it has committed genocide in Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.

“I believe the Israeli government is well able to fund the Iron Dome system, which has proven critical to keep innocent civilians safe from rocket attacks and bombardment,” she said in the statement. “Consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and US law.”

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