Joaquin Castro: ‘Israel does not deserve’ more U.S. dollars for weapons

U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) stated on the House floor that “Israel does not need — or quite honestly deserve — more American money for weapons.” Castro was among 103 House Democrats who voted to cut the annual $3.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel. The amendment, authored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), sought to remove Israel’s military assistance from the fiscal year 2027 State Department appropriations bill.

• Despite a record number of representatives voting for the cut, the measure failed with a 314-104 vote, as 98 Democrats and 215 Republicans opposed it.
• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) voted against the amendment, arguing it would “restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations.”
• Castro criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, stating, “Self-defense does not include indiscriminately bombing homes, hospitals, churches, schools or refugee camps.”
• Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin), chair of the the House Progressive Caucus, noted that the record number of Democrats supporting the cut signifies a significant shift for the party on this issue.