FMEP Legislative Round-Up August 29, 2025

Resource

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Recess Travel
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(FY26 NDAA – HOUSE) HR 3838: Introduced6/9/25 by Rogers (R-AL), the “Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.” This bill will be marked up in the House Rules Committee the week of September 8. Once passed by the House, HR 3838 will become the basis of negotiations with the Senate over the final text of the NDAA. The deadline for amendments was close of business 8/28/25. As of this writing, 938 amendments have been submitted (and additional amendments will be submitted late). As always, many of the submitted amendments deal Israel, Iran, and other areas of the Middle East – see table below for details. And as always, regardless of whether a given amendment gets a vote and/or is ultimately attached to the bill, it is useful to pay attention to all the amendments, since they offer valuable information about members’ priorities and intentions. Of special note:

  • Lawler (R-NY) and Gottheimer (D-NJ) offered an amendment to add the “IGO Anti-Boycott Act” (HR 867) – the current iteration of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (IABA) to the NDAA. As a reminder, on 5/2/25, the GOP House leader published a list of bills to be considered by the House on 5/5/25 under suspension of the rules. That list included HR 867. That announcement sparked backlash on social media, including from some House Republicans and some major Republican influencers. Subsequently, on 5/4/25 the GOP House leader published a new notice listing bills to be considered 5/5/25 under suspension of the Rules – HR 867 was not on that new list. For full details see the 5/9/25 edition of the Round-Up.
  • Goldman (D-NY) has offered an amendment to enforce the IHRA definition of antisemitism as the foundation for mandatory antisemitism training for all Department of Defense personnel.
  • Tenney (R-NY) has offered an amendment to compel DOD to use the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of “the West Bank.”
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) has offered an amendment to bar DOD contracts with any party that boycotts Israel or settlements.
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) has offered an amendment to attach the “STOP HATE” Act to the NDAA (legislation targeting free speech/criticism of Israel [for details see the 7/25/25 edition of the Round-Up).
Rules Committee
Amdt #		 Topic Sponsors & link to text Short description
9 Iran Houlahan (D-PA), Bacon (R-NE), Obernolte (R-CA) “Prohibits export or sale of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.”
12 Israel/Turkey Titus (D-NV) “Ensures Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge against Turkey.”
40 Syria Titus (D-NV) “Requires an Intelligence Community Assessment on Syria.”
41 Turkey/Syria/Iraq Bilirakis (R-FL) “Requires the Department of Defense and Secretary of State to issue a report assessing the Turkish Government’s activities in Syria, Iraq, and Turkey and whether those actions support terrorist organizations, money laundering, and/or contribute to humanitarian crises among civilians of those nations.”
42 Turkey/Iran Bilirakis (R-FL) “Requires the Department of Defense and Secretary of State to issue a report on Turkish-Iranian cooperation to evade sanctions imposed by the United States.”
44 Turkey Bilirakis (R-FL) “Prevents the sale or license for the export of F-35 aircraft to the Government of Turkey unless the President certifies such sale is in the national interest of the U.S. among other prerequisites.”
46 Israel Omar (D-MN) “Strikes section 1205, “Research, Develpoment, Test, and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies to further the warfighting capabilities of the United States and certain partner countries.'” [This section is focused on defense collaboration with Israel]
57 Israel (& others) Tlaib (D-MI) “Prohibits the use of funds for foreign military sales to any country (a) subject to a case before the International Court of Justice over violations of the Genocide Convention with provisional measures to prevent genocide issued by the court; or (b) the current government of which includes officials that have outstanding arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.”
100 Iran, Saudi Arabia, arguably Israel Omar (D-MN) “Bans arms sales to any country engaged in transnational repression against U.S. citizens.”
101 Israel Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Wilson (R-SC), Schneider (D-IL), Carter (R-GA) “Reauthorizes the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation program and expands the types of eligible energy projects. It is identical to H.R. 2280 (119th Congress).”
145 Free Speech/Protest/Criticism of Israel Gottheimer (D-NJ), Tenney (R-NY) “Requires a certification from the Secretary of Defense that no contractor of the Department participates in or is engaged with the BDS movement.”
146 Iran Harrigan (R-NC), Vasquez (R-NM) “Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy by January 1, 2030, to end reliance on adversarial nations, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Belarus, for key pharmaceutical raw materials.”
147 General Gottheimer (D-NJ), Tenney (R-NY) “Requires a report from Treasury that outlines any financial institution that has provided services that support a state sponsor of terrorism and any foreign financial institution that has conducted significant transactions for a person sanctioned by the U.S. for international terrorism or any human rights violation.”
150 The ICC/international law/Israel Gottheimer (D-NJ), Tenney (R-NY) “Includes a sense of Congress that the Secretaries of Defense and State must use every opportunity at forums involving NATO or major non-NATO allies to ensure that such allied countries do not enforce warrants issued by the ICC against members of the armed forces of the U.S. or of its other allies.”
157 Turkey Bilirakis (R-FL) “Prohibits the sale or license for the export of F-16 aircraft or F-16 aircraft upgrade technology to the Government of Turkey unless the President certifies such transfer is in the national interest of the United States, among other prerequisites.”
162 UAE Omar (D-MN) “Requires a report on UAE foreign policy in specific countries in East and North Africa, including an assessment on whether U.S.-origin equipment sent to the UAE is being for gross violations of human rights in those countries”
164 Syria Omar (D-MN) “Repeals two different Syria sanctions statutes (Caesar and the Syria parts of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012.).”
169 Israel Omar (D-MN) “Repeals the War Reserve Stockpile Authority for Israel.”
193 IHRA definition of Antisemitism Goldman (D-NY) “Establishes a mandatory antisemitism training program for all personnel of the Department of Defense.” [the amendment explicitly defines “antisemitism” to mean the IHRA definition, including its examples]
197 Free Speech/Protest/Criticism of Israel Gottheimer (D-NJ), Bacon (R-NE) “Inserts the text of the STOP HATE Act. Requires social media companies to release detailed reports of violations to their terms of service and how they are addressing content generated by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) and requires social media companies to explain the standard by which they would judge whether content generated or proliferated by terrorists would be deemed in a violation of the company’s terms of service.”
211 Iran Nadler (D-NY) “Requires a report detailing the battle damage assessment (BDA) of the US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the impact on the nuclear program, the remaining capabilities, any resulting difference in breakout time, an assessment of any remaining nuclear material, and an assessment of the impact of the strike on Iranian ballistic missile program and proxy activity.”
224 Syria Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) “Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a process to create Women’s Advisory Boards to advise on the U.S. policy response in conflict-affected countries, with the goal of integrating and meaningfully including the perspectives of locally affected women in conflict-resolution activities. This would replicate the UN’s Syrian Women Advisory Board which was created to ensure women had a direct and meaningful role in the peace process.”
239 Turkey/Hamas Goldman (D-NY), Malliotakis (NY), Self (TX), Gottheimer (NJ), Kean (NJ) “Requires a report on the Government of Turkey’s relationship with Hamas and its affiliates, including financial, political and military assistance.”
265 Jordan Gosar (R-AZ) “Requires expeditious disclosure of all records relating to the January 28, 2024, attack on Tower 22 in Jordan.”
287 Iran Ansari (D-AZ) “Establishes a special envoy for Iranian women, girls, and human rights.”
304 Egypt Beyer (D-VA), Doggett (D-TX) “Requires the Department of Defense to provide a detailed policy justification to the appropriate congressional committees for the provision of any DOD funds to the Government of Egypt.”
328 Syria Gosar (R-AZ), Omar (D-MN) “Nullification of Executive Order 13338, National Emergency declaration relating to Syria.”
329 Iran Panetta (CA), Wilson (SC), Zinke (MT), Kim (CA) “Leverages the Defense Departments cyber pilot program (section 398a of title 10 USC) to enhance the cyber capabilities of foreign security forces and other entities to conduct cyber operations aligned with U.S. national security interests, by identifying and vetting Iranian organizations with cyber expertise that could weaken the regime’s ability to control information and repress dissent.”
330 Iran Panetta (D-CA), Wilson (R-SC), Zinke (R-MT) “Directs the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to support the development of low-cost, easily scalable, and rapidly deployable technologies to counter internet shutdowns or limitations on network access abroad, particularly those imposed by adversary countries such as Iran.”
353 Greece/Cyprus/Israel Malliotakis (R-NY), Gottheimer (NJ), Goldman (NY), Kean (NJ) “Establishes a counterterrorism and maritime security partnership. The amendment also authorizes appropriations for new facilities and equipment at key locations in Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. Identical to H.R. 2510, the ‘American-Hellenic-Israeli Eastern Mediterranean Counterterrorism and Maritime Security Partnership Act of 2025.'”
360 Iran Neguse (D-CO) “Prohibits the use of funds to reduce or reallocate funding from NIST’s laboratory programs unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that such changes will not harm U.S. competitiveness in semiconductors, cybersecurity, quantum standards or other national security interests. The certification must include a summary of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia’s investments in core national defense technology advancements.”
365 Iran/Hezbollah/Lebanon Shreve (R-IN) “Requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, to develop a comprehensive strategy to counter Iran’s and Hezbollah’s propaganda, missionary networks, and influence operations in Latin America. Identical to H.R. 4531 (119th Congress).”
369 Israel/Iran Gottheimer (D-NJ), Lawler (R-NY) “Inserts the text of the bipartisan Bunker Buster Act, legislation that authorizes the president to support Israel’s defense by providing the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), or “bunker buster” bomb, and the aircraft required to deploy it — to take out Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure. This transfer of the MOP can only happen if Iran is determined to be in noncompliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement and IAEA is unable to provide confidence as to Iran’s undeclared nuclear facilities.”
373 Antisemitism/Free Speech/Protest/Criticism of Israel Gottheimer (D-NJ), Lawler (R-NY) “Requires a report on the nature and disposition of the most recent six years of substantiated administrative investigations or instances of antisemitism within the Equal Opportunity Program.”
385 Antisemitism/Free Speech/Protest/Criticism of Israel Gottheimer (D-NJ), Lawler (R-NY) “Directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) includes specific questions to assess the prevalence, nature, and impact of antisemitism within the military service academies.” [doesn’t mention IHRA but for sure that is the intent]
391 Israel, Palestine Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Directs the Treasury to deploy a financial attache to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to develop and execute the financial and economic policy of the United States Government and the international fight against terrorism, money laundering, and other illicit finance.”
404 Iran, Syria Pfluger (R-TX) “Extends existing State Department post-government employment (PGE) restrictions to more government employees, enacting a permanent lifetime ban for Agency Heads, Deputies, and senate-confirmed employees lobbying on behalf of countries of concern (China, Russia, Iran, N. Korea, Syria, Cuba).”
412 Iran Pfluger (R-TX) “Rescind specific waivers and licenses that allowed the transfer of frozen Iranian funds and prohibits reissuing such waivers or licenses in the future, effectively preventing Iran from accessing those accounts or similar funds. Identical to H.R. 2575 (119th Congress), and H.R.5947 (118th Congress) which passed the house.”
414 Iran Pfluger (R-TX) “Amends existing sanctions law to prohibit Iraq’s government from importing natural gas from Iran.”
421 Saudi Arabia, Iran, arguably Israel Pfluger (R-TX) “Establishes the Transnational Repression Working Group within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to monitor and analyze actions by foreign governments that threaten or intimidate citizens, residents, or other people present in the United States, as well as any related terrorism threats. Identical to H.R. 2158 (119th Congress).”
453 Israel (and others) Tlaib (D-MI) “Prohibits security assistance to any country that has, in the past ten years, used military force against a medical facility, the UN, a refugee camp, aid workers, or journalists, has committed or aided in the commission of the crime of forcible transfer, or impeded the delivery of humanitarian aid.”
481 Iran Pfluger (R-TX) “Imposes additional sanctions and export restrictions concerning Iranian airlines and the provision of US-origin components to Iranian airlines.”
489 Israel/West Bank/settlements McGovern (D-MA) “Requires an annual report from the Secretary of State to Congress, in consultation with Secretary of Defense, that assesses the status of Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank.”
499 Israel Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Expresses support for joint U.S.-Israel cooperation between NASA and the Israel Space Agency, including joint U.S. Air Force and Israel’s newly created Space Force in areas of research, development, test, and evaluation.”
501 Syria Luttrell (R-TX) “Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to evaluate the threat posed to the United States by individuals in Syria with ties to Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) or a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization (STGT). Identical to HR 1327 (119th Congress).”
510 Turkey Gottheimer (D-NJ), , Malliotakis (NY), Goldman (NY), Kean (NJ) “Prohibits the transfer or license of any defense articles or services to Turkey until the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, provides a report to Congress detailing the steps taken to ensure that Turkey is no longer violating the sovereignty of any member of NATO, a major non-NATO ally, or Cyprus; the steps taken to prevent Turkey from purchasing defense systems from U.S. adversaries; the steps taken to prevent the use of U.S. arms to facilitate the occupation of Cyprus; and the steps taken by Turkey to prevent future attacks on U.S. servicemembers or their families. The report requirement sunsets once the President certifies to Congress that Turkey is no longer violating the sovereignty of any member of NATO, a major non-NATO ally, or Cyprus.”
520 Israel Steube (R-FL) “Requires annual report on U.S.-Israel military exercises, emphasizes mutual benefit of U.S.-Israel relationship.”
525 Lebanon/Iran/Hezbollah Steube (R-FL) “Conditions aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces via an 8-point plan to remove Hezbollah and Iranian influence across Lebanon.”
535 Syria Wilson (R-SC), Panetta (D-CA) “Repeals the Caesar Act.”
537 Iran Steube (R-FL) “Extends and modifies annual report on Iranian military.”
538 Syria Gosar (R-AZ) “Requires the Director of National Intelligence to expeditiously make public all intelligence community records relating to the Timber Sycamore weapons and training program in Syria.”
542 Israel Steube (R-FL) “Requires briefing on the status of deliveries to the Government of Israel of any military aircraft or air-launched munitions approved for transfer that are undelivered or partially delivered.”
545 Iran Wilson (R-SC), Cohen (TN), Hudson (NC) “Counters the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian Regime, and the Russian Federation in the nation of Georgia by providing discretionary tools to the President. Identical to HR 36 119th Congress, as passed by the House”
548 Israel/Egypt Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Requires a study on steps Israel, the U.S., and Egypt can take to enhance international security measures on the border between Gaza and Egypt to ensure Hamas and other actors cannot use tunnels or methods via the Mediterranean Sea to smuggle weapons and illicit goods. Additionally, report will outline/ map existing tunnel networks.”
571 Israel Stefanik (R-NY) “Convenes the U.S.-Israel Defense Industrial Base Working Group to study the potential for defense industrial base integration between the United States and Israel, including the possibility of inclusion into the national technology and industrial base (as defined in section 4801 of title 10, United States Code).”
588 Free Speech/Protest/Criticism of Israel Lawler (R-NY), Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to include international governmental organizations (IGOs) in existing anti-boycott laws. This change targets harmful and inherently antisemitic BDS efforts at IGOs, such as the UN, by extending protections already in place for boycotts instigated by foreign countries. [This is the extremely controversial IGO Anti-Boycott Act, which is the current iteration of the extremely controversial Israel Anti-Boycott Act]
594 Israel Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Establishes the United States–Israel Artificial Intelligence Center to leverage the experience, knowledge, and expertise of institutions of higher education and private sector to develop more robust research and development cooperation regarding machine learning, object detection, data labeling, among other key areas in the AI space.”
629 Israel Massie (R-KY), Khanna (D-CA) “Provides that none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2026 may be used to transfer MK-84 2000-pound bombs to Israel”
632 Iran Gillen (D-NY) “Adds a Sense of Congress on Iran’s illegal nuclear weapons program and encourages European allies to invoke snapback sanctions on Iran.”
633 Iran Wilson (R-SC) “Requires Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy to be submitted to Congress, aimed at encouraging defections by senior Iranian security officials and members of the armed forces.”
643 Iran Lawler (R-NY), Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) “Expands and strengthens secondary sanctions on foreign entities enabling Iran’s illicit oil trade.”
647 Israel, normalization, Iran Lawler (R-NY), Moskowitz (D-FL) “Improves arms sales processes to U.S. partners that have normalized relations with Israel and are actively working with the United States to counter Iran and its terrorist proxies. Specifically, narrows the timeline for congressional consideration after arms sales are accepted, while maintaining existing eligibility criteria for arms sales themselves.”
648 Iran Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Requires the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and Department of Homeland Security, to produce an annual threat assessment on Iranian-linked sleeper cells within the United States.:
683 Iran, Israel Gonzales (R-TX) “Authorizes the award of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, to be known as the ‘Operation Midnight Hammer Medal,’ to eligible personnel who served during the 2025 Iran–Israel conflict, including Operation Midnight Hammer.”
744 Israel Steube (R-FL) “Requires report on U.S.-Israel cooperation on increased production capacity and inventory of the Arrow interceptor.”
747 Iran Gonzales (R-TX) “Prohibits Department of Defense cloud service contractors from employing citizens or nationals of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea in positions with access to DoD networks or environments.”
757 Iran Steube (R-FL) “Sanctions and designates certain Iranian proxies and militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
771 Turkey Goldman (D-NY), , Malliotakis (R-NY), Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Requires a report on the security impacts of Turkey’s illegal occupation of Cyprus to the US, its allies, and partners — including the presence of foreign terrorist organizations, past terror attacks and attempts, and threats to military installations and personnel.”
779 Israel Fine (R-FL), Gottheimer (D-NJ) “Establishes a grant program to increase cooperation on post-traumatic stress disorder research between the United States and Israel.”
793 ICC/Intl Law Cline (R-VA) “Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the role of the Department of Defense in supporting whole-of-government efforts to conduct international legal operations and to counter hostile international legal operations by foreign adversaries and strategic competitors of the United States.”
802 Palestinians/Gaza Sherman (D-CA) “Designates and sanctions the Popular Resistance Committees, which are the 3rd largest terrorist militia in Gaza and have claimed responsibility for the murder of Israeli and American civilians. It is an amendment version of the bipartisan, bicameral Accountability for Terrorist Perpetrators of October 7th Act (H.R. 2346).”
806 AUMF Meeks (D-NY), Roy (TX), Jacobs (CA), Massie (KY) “Inserts the text of H.R. 1488, repealing the 2002 and 1991 AUMFs.”
824 Israel Ogles (R-TN) “Requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the DNI to contduct a continual assessment of the impact of arms embargoes, sanctions, restrictions, or limitations imposed by foreign states or international organizations on Israel’s defense capabilities.”
826 Qatar (gift of plane to Trump) Meeks (D-NY) “Inserts the text of H.R. 3405, requiring the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report regarding the transfer of an aircraft from Qatar.”
829 Israel/West Bank (Greater Israel) Ogles (R-TN) “Establishes that it is the policy of the United States to reject efforts to impose sanctions or other punitive measures against Israel on the basis of its lawful administration of the Judea and Samaria area, its efforts to confront, apprehend, and eliminate terrorist threats, or its status as a Jewish state.”
835 Israel Nunn (R-IA), Davis (D-NC) “Directs the Secretary of Defense to work with our counterparts in the Israeli Ministry of Defense to establish a DIU field office within Israeli territory. This effort increases hands-on RDT&E, allows for faster communication, provides live feedback from the field, and shortens go-to-market time for new defense products. This effort is a continuation of 22 U.S.C. §8606. United States-Israel cooperation on energy, water, homeland security, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies, in particular under the Statutory Note Strategic Partnership on Defense Industrial Priorities Between the United States and Israel.”
844 Israel Ogles (R-TN) “Establishes the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense and its agencies should not participate in international defense exhibitions if they or the jurisdictions in which they are held block the participation of Israeli companies or use restrictions or the threat of restrictions as a means of deterring Israel from defending itself.”
850 Israel Nunn (R-IA) “Directs the Secretary of Defense to work with Israeli counterparts to determine the feasibility of a broader U.S. military base in the region. Given the ongoing conflicts in the CENTCOM AOR, additional U.S. resources in the region can help detect and deter adversarial aggression, resupply allies, and decrease the timeframe for logistical implementation. This study will allow the DOD to understand what is possible in the region and how to best utilize U.S. resources if deemed necessary.”
862 Iran Tenney (R-NY) “Requires Congressional notification for any sanctions relief on Iran.”
863 Israel/West Bank (Greater Israel) Tenney (R-NY) “Prohibits funding for materials that refer to Judea and Samaria by ‘the West Bank.”
892 Saudi Arabia Sherman (D-CA) “Prevents a nuclear deal or transfer of any nuclear reactors, equipment, or technologies to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unless the President certifies that Saudi Arabia has signed and implemented an Additional Protocol to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA and is not engaging in nuclear enrichment or reprocessing.”
929 Israel Nunn (R-IA) “This amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report outlining the status of integrated air and missile defense in the CENTOM AOR, particularly Israel. This report is requested so U.S. and Israeli military commanders can update their operational plans in relation to drone attacks, THAD missile production capabilities, and further expansion of Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Iron Beam capabilities.”

 

2. Letters

3. Recess Travel to Israel & West Bank & beyond

Israel & West Bank

  • Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/29/25: X-post w/ video clip – “This week @SenJeffMerkley & I returned to Kfar Aza—a kibbutz brutally attacked by Hamas on Oct 7. We witnessed the evidence of the atrocities committed that day & saw the homes of 2 young men still held hostage. The message from a kibbutz leader: Bring them home and end the war.”
  • Merkley (D-OR) 8/28/25: X-post – “At Ashdod Port, @ChrisVanHollen and I saw how Israel’s onerous screening process blocks badly needed food aid. Gaza is being starved, and @WFP is working tirelessly to get people the food they need.“
  • Merkley (D-OR) 8/28/25: X-post – “We met with families at Hostage Square who have endured unbearable loss. I stand with them in demanding that the Netanyahu government deliver a ceasefire and the immediate return of all the loved ones held in Gaza.“
  • Merkley (D-OR) 8/28/25: X-post – “This week, @ChrisVanHollen and I are traveling to Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, and Egypt to press for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza—where it’s desperately needed as famine sets in—and to continue our calls for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate return of all hostages.”
  • Merkley (D-OR) 8/28/25: X-post w/ video clip – “At Kerem Shalom Crossing, @ChrisVanHollen and I got a rosy briefing about aid reaching Gaza. But the reality is different. Far too little food gets through.“
  • Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/28/25: X-post w/ video clip – “I visited Kerem Shalom, one of the 2 main crossings between Israel and Gaza, where @SenJeffMerkley & I pointed out that the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s delivery system is fatally flawed. People are starving. The Netanyahu government must let more food into Gaza NOW.“
  • Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/28/25: X-post – “.@SenJeffMerkley and I were just in Israel to discuss the situation in Gaza and press to end the war and return all the hostages. We visited a @WFP “
  • US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee 8/28/25: X-post – “Senator @LindseyGrahamSC toured @GHFUpdates aid sites to observe first-hand how this U.S.-backed effort delivers humanitarian assistance directly to those who need it most, and keeps it out of the hands of Hamas terrorists.“
  • Israel President Isaac Herzog 8/28/25: X-post – “President @Isaac_Herzog met today with US Senator @LindseyGrahamSC in Jerusalem. The President praised the Senator’s long-standing commitment to progress and cooperation in the region: “You are a true friend of Israel, a true friend of the Jewish people, and a true ambassador for peace and progress in the region. We greatly appreciate your unwavering moral clarity and dedication to building a better future for the Middle East, to bringing the hostages home, to standing up for freedom and against the threat of terror, and to expanding the circle of peace and cooperation.”
  • Reuters 8/28/25: X-post w/ video clip – “US Senator Lindsey Graham speaks in Tel Aviv“
  • Haaretz 8/26/25: Telling Israel ‘This Is Not Right’: Democratic U.S. Senators Meet Gaza Hostage Families in Tel Aviv
  • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 8/25/25: X-post w/ pic – “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with US Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) at his office in Jerusalem“
  • Ernst (R-IA) 8/25/25: X-post w/ pic – “Thank you, @netanyahu for your steadfast support in bringing home all of the hostages.   Israel will always have a friend in America.“
  • Jewish Insider 8/25/25: Rep. John McGuire advised Netanyahu to ‘get the job done’ in Gaza during Israel trip
  • Cisneros (D-CA) 8/22/25: Rep. Cisneros Statement on Trip to Israel [“Along with a group of Democratic Members of Congress, I traveled to Israel to demand answers about the status of the situation in Gaza. We met with Israeli and Palestinian government officials about the continuing conflict. We met with the team from the U.N.’s World Food Program and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation on the status of food distribution. I did not go on this trip to kiss the ring of Prime Minister Netanyahu or undermine the suffering happening in both Israel and Palestine; rather, I went to conduct oversight into what is really happening with aid distribution, dispel misinformation, and ask hard questions of both governments. All human life is precious, and no civilian—Israeli or Palestinian—should be subject to fear, starvation, and violence. On the trip we discussed the shortcomings of the current aid systems.  As it stands, the aid deliveries in Gaza are falling unacceptably short of the humanitarian need. It is the duty of Israel, Palestine, and international partners to ensure that aid trucks make it into Gaza quickly and effectively to prevent civilian suffering. In Congress, I have advocated for a two-state solution that would give both Israelis and Palestinians a safe and permanent home. Both the Israeli and Palestinian people want the war to end and all involved parties must work to return the hostages, agree to a ceasefire, and end the suffering.”]

Lebanon

Syria

  • Shaheen (D-NH), Ernst (R-IA), & Wilson (R-SC) 8/28/25: Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Ernst, Representative Wilson Statement on Israeli Strikes in Damascus [“We just returned from Syria, where we heard directly from interim President Al Sharaa, cabinet ministers and Syrians from across ethnic and religious communities. The message was clear: Syria needs a chance to succeed and move past the violence and strife that consumed the country for over 14 years. Last night’s destabilizing strikes on Syria by Israel make that goal more difficult to achieve. We commend President Trump for taking the bold step of lifting sanctions off Syria earlier this year. Through the work of the President’s Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, a once-unthinkable and historic meeting occurred directly between the Syrian and Israel governments just this month. The Syrians are prepared to move forward with Israel to advance peace. It is unclear how long the door to this opportunity will remain open. We call on Israel to seize the moment and immediately cease hostilities so the progress made by Syrians and Special Envoy Barrack can continue. A stable and secure Syria is the only path toward freedom from Iran’s reach and containment of the ISIS threat.”]
  • Jewish News Syndicate 8/28/25: Legislators call on Israel to ‘cease hostilities’ in Syria after Damascus strikes
  • Jewish Insider 8/28/25: Ernst, Shaheen, Wilson criticize Israel’s Syria strikes as ‘destabilizing’
  • Alsharq Al-Awsat 8/26/25: Bipartisan Pair of US Lawmakers Pushing to Lift Syria Sanctions After Visit
  • Arab News 8/26/25: Senior members of US Congress meet Syrian leader in Damascus
  • SFRC Dems 8/26/25: X-post – “‘Today’s meeting with leaders from many faiths was a testament to the Syrian people’s common cause: a country free from violence where people of many backgrounds can work together toward a brighter future.’ – @SenatorShaheen at the St. Ephraim Monastery“
  • SFRC Dems 8/26/25: X-post w/ video clip – “‘We are here supporting lifting the Caesar sanctions, supporting what we can do to promote Syria’s future, and help @USAMBTurkiye in his efforts.’ – @SenatorShaheen offering a retrospective on leading a bipartisan delegation to at the Monastery of St. Ephraim”
  • Shaheen (D-NH) 8/25/25: READOUT: Ranking Member Shaheen’s Travel to Syria and Meeting with President Ahmed Al-Sharaa
  • SFRC Dems 8/25/25: X-post – “Ranking Member @SenatorShaheen met with Syrian President Al-Sharaa today in Damascus on a bipartisan delegation with @USAMBTurkiye and @RepJoeWilson. They discussed the security situation in Syria and the path to a democratic, prosperous Syria for all Syrians.”
  • SFRC Dems 8/25/25: X-post – “Ranking Member @SenatorShaheen .”
  • Wilson (R-SC) 8/25/25: X-post – “It was my honor to meet with President Ahmed al-Sharaa as part of a bipartisan delegation with @USAMBTurkiye and Ranking Member Shaheen of @SFRCdems to discuss a bright, unified, and stable future for Syria. This trip was particularly meaningful for me, and I am grateful for the warm reception. The time for FULL Caesar repeal is NOW. As a priority of President Trump’s administration, I remain committed to this critical and bipartisan goal. #MakeSyriaGreatAgain”
  • Wilson (R-SC) 8/25/25: X-post – “I have always been inspired by the Syrian people, those I met in the refugee camps as well as Syrian Americans I met as they advocated for a Free Syria. Assad’s regime declared me an enemy of the state. He is now in Moscow while I, by God’s grace, am in Damascus! #MakeSyriaGreatAgain”
  • Wilson (R-SC) 8/25/25: X-post – “An honor to join @USAmbTurkiye Tom Barrack and @SFRCDems @SenatorShaheen to meet Syrian Church leaders at a historic interfaith conference featuring religious clerics of all religions and denominations at the St. Ephraim Syriac Orthodox Monastery of Sayadnya, Syria. I am inspired by their efforts to strengthen freedom of religion post-Assad. Make Syria Great Again“
  • Wilson (R-SC) 8/25/25: X-post – “Grateful for the deep insights of @MorAphremII the Patriarch and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church in Sayadnaya, Syria. The Syrian people are an inspiration. Make Syria Great Again“
  • New York Times 8/25/25: Lawmakers Visit Syria to Push for Repealing Sanctions Law
  • Reuters/US News & World Report 8/25/25: Syrian President Discusses Developments in Syria With US Envoy in Damascus

Jordan

4. Selected Members on the Record

Gaza Famine, Israeli Double-Tap attack on Gaza Hospital, killing 20, including journalists

  • Doggett (D-TX) 8/29/25: X-post – “I salute the courageous rabbis, who are speaking out in opposition to the increasingly outrageous conduct of the Israeli government as it continues to disregard military advice in promoting endless war in Gaza. Those who continue to claim Netanyahu can do no wrong are complicit, not only in the deaths of innocent Palestinians but in causing lasting damage to Israel.“
  • Bonamici (D-OR) 8/28/25: Bonamici Statement on H.R. 3565, the “Block the Bombs Act” [“…I have added my name as a co-sponsor of H.R. 3565, the “Block the Bombs Act” to prohibit the President of the United States from sending certain offensive weapons to Israel without a vote of Congress and without assurance from Israel that the arms will only be used in accordance with international law. This bill is a call for change, and I see it as a moral imperative that we expedite an end to the suffering…”]
  • Kelly (D-AZ) 8/28/25: X-post – “Cindy McCain is right. Kids are starving in Gaza. It doesn’t have to be like this. I’ve been working to get food where it’s needed in Gaza. Thank you to the @WFP for your work to save lives.“
  • Min (D-CA) 8/27/25: X-post – “Enough is enough. It is long past time for this conflict to come to an end.” With link to New York Times article, 20 Killed in Gaza Hospital Strikes. Netanyahu Claims ‘Tragic Mishap.’ plus a statement in a GIF – “While I mourn the brutal attacks of 10/7 and once again call on Hamas to return the remaining Israel hostages, enough is enough. The staggering number of journalists, doctors, and aid workers killed in Gaza is unacceptable. The 3 million Gazans facing starvation must receive aid. The Israeli government mouse provide accountability but I have zero trust or faith in Netanyahu’s motives. It is long past time for this conflict to come to an end.” [emphasis in the original]
  • Jayapal (D-WA) 8/26/25: X-post – “The Israeli military bombed a Gaza hospital TWICE, killing 5 journalists and at least 15 others. They continue to violate both U.S. and international law. We must end our complicity in this massacre and stop providing the weapons that fuel this genocide.“
  • Welch (D-VT) 8/26/25: X-post – “20 Palestinians—including four journalists—were killed by an Israeli airstrike on a hospital in Gaza. When a second group tried to recover the bodies, another airstrike hit them. The U.S. can’t continue to financially support Netanyahu’s cruel war strategy.“
  • Warren (D-MA) 8/26/25: X-post – “etanyahu’s callous disregard for human life is staggering. The U.S. cannot send another penny to the Israeli government to be used to kill innocent Palestinians, doctors, nurses, and the journalists who are working to give each of them a voice.“
  • Baldwin (D-WI) 8/26/25: X-post – “Man-made famine and starving children in this day and age is immoral and unacceptable. Bombing hospitals and killing journalists is immoral and unacceptable. Trump must do more to stop Netanyahu’s war, bring the hostages home, and surge in aid to innocent people in Gaza.“
  • Doggett (D-TX) 8/26/25: X-post – “Linked to article, A glimpse of life in Gaza, through the voices of its children (PBS 8/22/25)
  • Smith (D-WA) 8/26/25: Rep. Smith calls for the U.S. to leverage certain arms sales to Israel [“Israel should implement a ceasefire in Gaza and massively increase the flow of humanitarian aid. They must also stop the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and take serious steps to reduce the violence there. I urge President Trump to directly appeal to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government to take these steps. If Israel does not take these steps, I believe it is time for the United States government to stop the sale of some offensive weapons systems to Israel as leverage to pressure Israel into taking these actions. I support Israel and recognize both the threats they face and the reality that the actions of Hamas and their supporters have driven this conflict. But, right now, it is impossible to see how further military action in Gaza could degrade Hamas’ capabilities to any appreciable degree further than what has already occurred. Yes, the hostages must be returned. It is outrageous that Hamas took the hostages and has continued to hold them. But six months of war since the end of the last ceasefire has done nothing to bring the hostages home. I have been opposed to blocking weapons sales to Israel as leverage in the past, but the situation in the Middle East has changed dramatically in recent months. Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran have all been weakened to the point where they pose a substantially reduced threat to Israel. Assad, a crucial ally for all three, has been removed from power in Syria. These are very positive developments that might not have happened if the US had reduced its support to Israel prior to them occurring. But these developments also mean that Israel faces little if any risk to its security if the US blocks the sale of some weapons now. The other risk of any action that attempts to pressure Israel into ending the war is that such action could simply embolden Hamas to keep fighting. I believe this has happened throughout the war as various international groups have consistently failed to hold Hamas accountable for starting the war and for their actions during it, instead placing all the blame on Israel and empowering Hamas to keep fighting and holding the hostages. I do not agree with that approach. But the war is now in a very different place. It appears near certain that Hamas will not simply walk away in response to military force from the IDF. It is time to pressure Hamas by working with alternative Palestinian leadership to rebuild Gaza and give the Palestinian people some hope for their future. I am not naïve that this approach is somehow guaranteed to work, but simply continuing the war has clearly failed to completely eliminate Hamas or gain the return of the hostages. It is time to try something else. And the situation in Gaza is at a crisis point. Clearly, the world should not blindly trust how Hamas reports that situation, but the scale of the humanitarian crisis cannot be denied. I also believe that if Israel does not end the war in Gaza, they run the risk of being ostracized globally in a way that is a far greater threat to the long-term security of Israel than anything their adversaries are now capable of doing. I do remain concerned that so many people advocating for the US to stop supporting Israel believe that Israel does not have the right to exist as a country. Opposing the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza to stop the war and end the suffering of the Palestinian people is very different from opposing the Israeli government out of a desire to wipe it off the map. Faced with that kind of existential threat, Israel will be far less likely to seek peace in the short term. This broader concern, however, does not change the facts that exist now. Nothing more can be realistically accomplished by Israel continuing the war in Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis there must be addressed.”
  • Pocan (D-WI) 8/25/25: X-post – “.@Netanyahu is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and hundreds of thousands of Israelis are protesting his destruction of Gaza. The tides are turning. Netanyahu must do the right thing and end the mass starvation and killing.”
  • Beyer (D-VA) 8/25/25: X-post – “<These ‘tragic mishaps’ that kill journalists, aid workers, and healthcare workers keep happening. Apologies and investigations are not enough. We need a ceasefire as soon as possible to stop the killing, bring hostages home, and provide desperately needed aid to people in Gaza.“
  • Velazquez (D-NY) 8/25/25: X-post – “Israel’s deliberate, horrific strikes on Nasser Hospital killed doctors, journalists, and rescue workers. A hospital should never be a war zone. The U.S. cannot keep funding these war crimes.”
  • Doggett (D-TX) 8/24/25: X-post – “In order to officially declare a famine in Gaza on Friday, the IPC, a technocratic body, determined that each day at least 400 people are starving to death. 132,000 children under the age of 5 are at risk of death from acute malnutrition over coming months. This is Netanyahu’s legacy—war by starvation that kills the innocent including the Israeli hostages that his extremist government has abandoned. The Trump Administration shares responsibility for these deaths as do all who remain silent about this outrage. More information about the famine determination is available at: ipcinfo.org/famine-facts/“
  • Dexter (D-OR) 8/24/25: X-post – “A panel of UN food security experts confirmed that Netanyahu’s weaponization of starvation has driven Gaza into famine. Children are starving to death. The U.S. must use its power to secure an immediate & sustained surge of aid—anything less is complicity.“
  • Shaheen (D-NH) 8/24/25: X-post w/ video clip – “The reality is that we have people dying because they are systematically being starved to death, because Israel is refusing to allow in the humanitarian aid that people need to stay alive.”
  • Shaheen (D-NH) 8/24/25: X-post w/ video clip – “It is a shameful, black mark on humanity that the world has allowed this to happen and that Israel is allowing this to happen.“
  • Quigley (D-IL) 8/23/25: X-post – “Global monitor IPC reported that the crisis in Gaza City is a famine — with over 500,000 people starving. We must get food aid safely into Gaza, we must shutdown the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and we must restore UN oversight of aid operations.“
  • Kim (D-NJ) 8/22/25: Senator Andy Kim Statement on Declaration of Famine in Gaza City [“Today’s declaration of famine in Gaza City must be a wake up call to the international community that this conflict needs to end. I have pressed the Netanyahu government to take real steps to ensure the full access and direct delivery of food to Gazans, but they have so far refused to change course and have repeatedly denied the existence of hunger and starvation. We all must condemn Hamas for the continued suffering of hostages like Evyatar David as well as their disregard for the people of Gaza that is fueling the starvation. Still, Hamas’ brutality does not lessen Israel’s responsibility for protecting civilians. These conditions will only be worsened if the Israeli military seeks to further occupy Gaza. The time is now to stop the hunger and this conflict. I call on the Trump and Netanyahu Administrations to immediately reverse the current dangerous trajectory and take action to save lives.“]
  • Goodlander (D-NH) 8/22/25: Goodlander Calls for Immediate Surge in Humanitarian Assistance to Civilians in Gaza: “The unbearable and heartbreaking suffering of civilians in Gaza must end now. This cannot wait.”
  • McGovern (D-MA) 8/22/25: X-thread – “Netanyahu will starve every man, woman & child in Gaza to avoid jail. Hundreds have already died of starvation. As famine spreads, more will follow. My colleagues must look at their faces & decide: end the starvation & mass death—or be remembered for your shameful silence.” With link to Haaretz 8/21/25 article, ‘Starvation Is Everywhere’: Virtual Tours of Gaza Clinics Expose the Scale of the Horror [“In recent weeks we spoke by video with doctors around the Gaza Strip. Through virtual tours of medical facilities, we sought to document the situation in which thousands of children suffer from severe acute malnutrition. What we saw was of catastrophic proportions“]
  • Jayapal (D-WA) 8/22/25: X-post – “The UN has officially declared famine in Gaza. This is an urgent humanitarian crisis and genocide. The Israeli government must immediately let aid in and stop starving people in Gaza.“
  • Sanders (I-VT) 8/22/25: X-post – “The UN says the famine in Gaza is  ‘entirely man-made’ and ‘could be halted & reversed.’ Trump is supposedly a ‘tough guy.’   Well, it’s time for him to have the guts to stand up to Netanyahu and stop sending billions in U.S. tax dollars to Israel to starve children.”
  • Lee (D-PA) 8/22/25: X-post – “This man-made famine was preventable. Israel continues to block food, medication, and essentials to starve Palestinians. Half a million people, including children, are dying and our tax dollars are paying for it. The US must hold the Israeli government accountable. Let aid in. End the genocide now.”

American Citizen Minor Detained by Israel for 6 Months Without Due Process

  • Castor (D-FL) 8/25/25: X-post – “>My statement on the detention of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim:” with text of a statement in a GIF (that statement was NOT posted anywhere on her website as of 8/27/25 at 10am EST) reading: “I urge the Trump Administration to do everything in its power to obtain the release of Mohammed Ibrahim 0 a child, an American citizen and Floridian. I am deeply concerned about his well-being following reports of his prolonged detention without charges or trial. The United States has a responsibility to advocate for its citizens abroad, and I respectfully urge the President and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to work for his swift release and return to his family. My office has been in touch with the administration about Mohammed’s case, and will continue pressing for his release.” Also note: from DropSite News – X-post 8/26/25: “PA President Abbas met U.S. senators Van Hollen and Merkley in Ramallah today. Journalist @infinite_jaz reports the senators also met with the parents of imprisoned American Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim and murdered American Sayfollah Musallet, along with families of other Palestinian Americans killed in the illegally occupied West Bank. They reportedly vowed to press US Ambassador Huckabee to demand Israel free 16-year-old Ibrahim from the notorious Megiddo torture camp, and seek justice for the others.“

West Bank, Including E-1 Settlement Plan

  • Smith (D-WA) 8/25/25: Rep. Adam Smith Statement on Advancement of the E1 Settlement Plan [“The advancement of the long-stalled E1 settlement project is deeply alarming and destabilizing. This plan, which would add 3,400 housing units near East Jerusalem, would effectively split the West Bank into two regions and make the prospect of a viable Palestinian state significantly more difficult. The development of E1 flies in the face of long-standing U.S. and international opposition, undermines Israel’s own security, jeopardizes the future of the Palestinian people, and further erodes the possibility of a two-state solution, which is the only realistic path towards lasting peace. Finance Minister Smotrich’s declaration that this project is meant to ‘bury’ the idea of a Palestinian state makes the intention of this extremist plan clear. It is a direct rejection of peace efforts and a provocation that threatens to fuel further violence. I call on the Israeli government to reverse course and halt this reckless, dangerous plan. Continued unfettered settlement expansion threatens to push Israelis and Palestinians further from peace and jeopardizes the stability of the region.”]

Members of Congress v. AIPAC & friends & Orthodoxy of UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL

  • Khanna (D-CA) 8/27/26: X-post – “You have forfeited your right to use the phrase “moral clarity” @aipac. A number of your former leaders support me, and it’s sad you have become more a front for Ben Gvir, Smotrich & the right wing fringe than mainstream Jewish Americans.” Responding to AIPAC X-post – “Weakening Israel and rewarding Hamas isn’t moral clarity, @RoKhanna. Standing with our democratic ally that is fighting a genocidal terror group is moral clarity. Taking actions that pressure Hamas to end this war by freeing the hostages and surrendering power is moral clarity.” That AIPAC post was a response to Khanna’s X-post – “This is not complicated. Our party needs moral clarity. 1. No sales of military weapons used to kill civilians (Sanders res). 2. Recognition of a Palestinian state (my letter). 3. No Hamas, elections, & release of all hostages.“
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 8/26/25: X-post – “Democrats continuing to ignore their base on the Palestine issue is insane. They will continue to lose.” Responding to post from Zeteo’s Prem Thakker, “New Quinnipiac Poll — 50% of voters say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Includes *77%* of Democrats, 51% of independents, and 20% of Republicans. 60% of voters oppose sending more aid to Israel. Includes 75% of Democrats, 66% of independents, and 37% of Republicans.“
  • Greene (R-GA) 8/25/25: X-post – “Many prominent “America first” social media influencers are clearly getting paid by a foreign government aligned people to literally influence your opinion about me by lying about me and slandering me! Thank you Brian Glenn for setting the record strait!! I’m UNAPOLOGETICALLY AMERICA ONLY!!! That is what the entire U.S. House of Representatives should be!! Any U.S. elected official and American who puts the SECULAR (NOT BIBLICAL) Government of Israel FIRST is NOT America First!!! They should register under FARA – Foreign Agents Registration Act, a U.S. law that requires individuals and entities acting on behalf of foreign interests to disclose their relationships and activities to the Department of Justice. MANY PEOPLE are absolutely fed up with this to the point they are going to question future candidates running for office if they will refuse to take AIPAC donations. America is my home and it’s the ONLY COUNTRY I’M FIGHTING FOR!!!“
  • Massie (R-KY) 8/24/25: X-post – “You will not win support for Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza by falsely branding Americans opposed to the continuation of the war, and the civilian casualties inflicted by the war, as anti-Semitic.” Responding to post from former Trump ambassador to Israel David Friedman, “A few months ago, @RepMTG and @RepThomasMassie .”
  • Greene (R-GA) 8/23/25: X-post – “If America was being bombed day and night because of something horrific our government did, and many innocent Americans and American children were being killed and traumatically injured, and we begged for mercy, but the rest of the world said, “Americans voted for their government so they deserve it, their government is bad so all Americans are bad, therefore this is what they get and must be done” And the world was silent to our suffering. And no one came to our aid. And our cities and homes were bombed and turned to rubble. And our infrastructure was destroyed, no farms, no grocery stores, no more organized society. And no one helped our injured and hungry children. How would you feel? What would you think? What would you do? This is what is happening to Gaza where in spite of what we have all been told, many innocent people and children are being killed and they are not Hamas. Does Hamas deserve it? Yes. Do innocent people and children deserve it? No. The innocent people in Gaza did not kill and kidnap the innocent people in Israel on Oct 7th. Just as we spoke out and had compassion for the victims and families of Oct7, how can Americans not speak out and have compassion for the masses of innocent people and children in Gaza? Is one type of innocent life worthy and another type of innocent life worth nothing? For me, I think God sees all innocent lives the same and he loves them all. As a matter of fact, He sent his own son for all people, that’s how much He loves us. America funds Israel $3.8 billion annually for military aid. Actually correction. U.S. taxpayers fund Israel $3.8 billion annually for military aid. That means every U.S. tax payer is contributing to Israel’s military actions. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay for genocide in a foreign country against a foreign people for a foreign war that I had nothing to do with. And I will not be silent about it.“
  • Massie (R-KY) 8/23/25: X-post – “Regardless of how many politicians you contribute to, Israel is losing the public relations campaign for its war in Gaza due to its indiscriminate bombing and tens of thousands of civilian casualties.” Responding to AIPAC post (which was a response to a Greene, R-GA, post) – “.@RepMTG has gone full Squad. Same message, same legislation, same anti-Israel vision. The horrible war is only happening because Hamas refuses to free the hostages & surrender power. Yet, MTG and her friends in the Squad won’t take any action to pressure Hamas to end it. Why?“
  • Khanna (D-CA) 8/23/25: X-post – “.@jkirchick has been one of the loudest apologists for Netanyahu’s war in Gaza and claimed that journalists being killed in Gaza were actually combatants. Being criticized by him is a badge of honor. He has the same care for Epstein’s victims as civilians in Gaza.” Responding to James Kirchick X-post – “Congress is a repository for the attention-starved, and its thirstiest members–@mtgreenee @rokhanna @RepThomasMassie @SenAdamSchiff etc.—are the loudest ones peddling conspiracy theories. Stop giving them your attention. Read my latest for @nytopinion:” Linked to his NYT article, Why Epstein’s Furious Grip on Washington Holds
  • Greene (R-GA) 8/22/25: X-post – “It’s not antisemitic to disagree with the secular government of Israel and Netanyahu. Many Jews disagree with the secular government of Israel and Netanyahu. However, it’s something else, entirely sinister, to coordinate a smear campaign with lies and name calling against those of us who disagree with the secular government of Israel and want to end all forms of U.S. foreign aid and funding of foreign wars for all foreign countries. I’ve never attacked Jewish people and they know it, yet they still prosecute me publicly with lies and slander for the crime of criticizing the secular government of Israel and their wars. But their arrows fall short and their swords are dull and don’t penetrate. I can and will criticize any government I want, including my own!! There are good hearted people of all kinds in America, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and more, and I am striving to steer clear of the stereotypes we’ve had shoved into our minds by mass programming for decades. “United we stand, divided we fall.” I will always speak out against and fight against evil, murder especially murder of children, all types of terrorism, criminals, monsters whose victims are children, and those who abuse their power and crush the innocent. However by joining with all Americans, regardless of race religion or political affiliation, who desperately want us to save America by fighting for America ONLY, this is how we will stand UNITED, not fall, become an unstoppable force for good, and in the end PREVAIL. This is the movement they always feared. This is the movement they always fought to stop by generating all types of schemes to divide us all. And the movement is bigger than I could have ever imagined. The horse is out of the gate.”

WE LOVE ISRAEL,  & ANYTHING BAD IN GAZA IS A LIE &/OR 100% THE FAULT OF HAMAS

  • Budd (R-NC) 8/29/25: X-post – “Today, the @IDF retrieved the bodies of two hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023. I am praying for the families as they continue to grieve the death of their loved ones.   Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, including two Americans. We must continue to exert all forms of pressure on Hamas leadership until they release every hostage in Gaza—both living and deceased.”
  • [daily X-post] Scott (R-FL) 8/28/25: X-post – “After 692 days, Hamas terrorists have yet to free 50 hostages. Every day in captivity means more pain and more time stolen from the hostages and their families. Hamas is evil and should be destroyed. We must bring every hostage home!“
  • Graham (R-SC) 8/28/25: X-post – “It is not lost on me that Israel is in a war for its very survival, the equivalent of trying to achieve a Berlin airlift-type operation while the Nazis still control parts of Berlin. That is not an easy task. During the month of August, the system has been working much better and food prices have dropped dramatically in Gaza. I believe the meeting between the World Food Program and Prime Minister Netanyahu will make the system even more efficient in the future. I applaud the efforts of both parties to work in better coordination. As a result of this meeting, I expect better outcomes.”
  • Fine (R-FL) 8/27/25: X-post – “Everything about the ‘Palestinian’ cause is a lie. Everything.”
  • Haridpolos (R-FL) 8/27/25: Mike Haridopolos warns targeting Israeli firms while funding China is ‘virtue signaling’
  • Cloud (R-TX) 8/27/25: X-post – “Hamas cannot stay in power in Gaza. That’s a non-starter of a conversation. They’re not good for the people of Israel who are trying to live in peace. They do no favors for the people in Gaza. They have shown how evil they are and lost any moral authority to regain power.“
  • Hoeven (R-ND) 8/25/25: X-post – “Joined @JonScottFNC on @FoxNews this weekend to talk about the crisis in Gaza. The culprit is clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization; blocking aid, using civilians as human shields and prolonging the conflict. Israel is doing everything it can to get food and medicine to those in need. This ends when Hamas is defeated.”
  • Graham (R-SC) 8/24/25: X-post – “Happy birthday to @GovMikeHuckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and a dear friend. You’re in the right place at the right time to help the United States and your beloved Israel. Enjoy your birthday!“
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 8/24/25: X-post – “If Hamas raped and butchered 1,200 French citizens; then starved and kept French hostages underground for nearly 700 days… How enthusiastic would Macron be for a Palestinian state now?“
  • Higgins (R-LA) 8/24/25: X-post – “GAZA is only 25 miles long and 5 miles wide. The weather is perfect and it’s on the Mediterranean Sea where every year, 2 million tons of fish are harvested. 1.8 million people live in GAZA and they’ve received $20 billion… that’s twenty thousand million dollars… in charity over the last decade. The culture is ancient and by their own account the people are brilliant. Yet, despite living in a land of abundance, the people of GAZA are impoverished and starving. I’ll give you three reasons why… Hamas. Hamas. Hamas.”

Revoking Visas for PA & PLO Officials

  • Cotton (R-AR) 8/29/25: X-post – “The Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization pay terrorists to kill civilians, including Americans in Israel. The terrorists who run this pay-for-slay scheme have no business setting foot in the United States.”
  • Scott (R-FL) 8/29/25: X-post – “This is a historic decision by @POTUS and @SecRubio to revoke and block PA officials and PLO leaders from attending the UNGA, including the “Two-State Solution”conference, due to their anti-Israel actions.“
  • Mace (R-SC) 8/29/25: X-post – “We introduced the No Amnesty For Hamas Sympathizers Act for exactly this reason. We cannot welcome t*rrorists into our country with open arms. We need to keep them out. Thank you <@SecRubio for putting the safety of America first.“

Targeting Other Countries & UN  for Not Lining Up with US/Israel

  • Lankford (R-OK) 8/29/25: X-post – “The UN’s decision to wind down its peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, in southern Lebanon is a good thing for Lebanon, Israel, and the region as a whole. Despite UNIFIL’s presence, Hezbollah flourished. Empowering Lebanon to root out Hezbollah and be the sole security guarantor for the Lebanese people is the right call, and a win for Israeli security.”
  • Graham (R-SC) 8/28/25: X-post – “To those who run Norway’s sovereign wealth fund: if you cannot do business with Caterpillar because Israel uses their products, maybe it’s time you’re made aware that doing business or visiting America is a privilege, not a right. Maybe it’s time to put tariffs on countries who refuse to do business with great American companies. Or maybe we shouldn’t give visas to individuals who run organizations that attempt to punish American companies for geopolitical differences. I would urge you to reconsider your shortsighted decision.“
  • Graham (R-SC) 8/27/25: X-post – “To Norway’s sovereign wealth fund –which is the largest in the world: Your decision to punish Caterpillar, an American company, because Israel uses their product is beyond offensive. Your BS decision will not go unanswered.” Linked to Wall Street Journal X-post – “Norway’s Sovereign-Wealth Fund to Shed Caterpillar Stake Amid Humanitarian Risks”
  • Hagerty (R-TN) 8/25/25: X-post – “Thank you to my good friend, @USAmbFrance Charlie Kushner, for urging France to do more to counter antisemitism & offering to work with President Macron & leaders of French society to counter this resurging threat. Leadership matters!”
  • Cotton (R-AR) 8/24/25: X-post – “It’s time to shut down UNIFIL.” With link to Wall Street Journal article with that same headline, by the Kohelet Forum’s Eugene Kontorovich
  • Fine (R-FL) 8/23/25: X-post – “If Ireland wants to start treating their people with Palestinian medicines, that’s their right. Oh, wait…” with pic of Irish Times headline, “More than 50 consultants urge State to stop using Israeli medicines where ‘viable alternative’ exist”

Islamophobia In Action

  • Fine (R-FL) 8/27/25: X-post – “Thank you @LauraLoomer for being a one-woman army exposing the threat of Muslim terror inside and outside our government!” Linked to Loomer post celebrating Fine for calling for a Muslim-American employee of the State Department to be fired
  • Fine (R-FL) 8/26/25: X-post – “Fire“. Linked to Loomer post targeting a Muslim-American employee of the State Department
  • Fine (R-FL) 8/24/25: X-post – “Radical Islam is a major threat to the West. We must do everything in our power to eradicate it and save western civilization.“
  • Fine (R-FL) 8/23/25: X-post – “When Hamas killed innocent women and children on October 7th, the Muslim Brotherhood cheered on and supported radical jihadists. It’s time to call out evil for what it is and designate them a terrorist organization. I’m proud to cosponsor @MarioDB’s and @RepMoskowitz’s bill that will get this done. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” [reminder – X-thread w/ links by @JonathanACBrown 8/16/25: “Everyone should be aware of the newest US government effort to designate “the Muslim Brotherhood” (whatever that means, considering that there are dozens of national organizations of different degrees of relation to the original Egyptian org) a terrorist organization. The reason that Islamophobes/Pro-Israel activists have been pushing this for 20 years is that it would allow US law enforcement to threaten basically every single Muslim activist, intellectual or organization in the West, since almost all of them have some link, especially back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, with one of these many “Muslim brotherhood” organizations. It would be the equivalent of Democrats making “conservative activism” a terrorist organization to go after Republicans. For example, if you were a member of the Muslim Student Association in college, well the MSA was founded back in 1963 by students from Iraq, Lebanon etc. who had been in their countries’ MB branches. As part of this effort, Sec. of State Rubio is also discussing designating the main American organization that advocates for American Muslim rights, CAIR, a terrorist organization.”]

Targeting Academia/Free Speech/Protest of Israel/Protest in General

  • Crane (R-AZ) 8/28/25: X-post – “The Soros Crime Family has unleashed terror on We the People for far too long. Thank you for taking action, President Trump.” Responding to Trump post on Truth Social calling for prosecution of George Soros and his son using RICO for funding protests.
  • Nehls (R-TX) 8/27/25: X-post – “Liberal billionaire George Soros and his son are the architects of violent protests and riots that we’ve seen across the country. They should be held accountable. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Responding to Trump post on Truth Social calling for prosecution of George Soros and his son using RICO for funding protests.
  • Ogles (R-TN) 8/27/25: X-post – “There is no doubt that George Soros has funded violent insurrection and riots in America. Charge him.” Responding to Trump post on Truth Social calling for prosecution of George Soros and his son using RICO for funding protests.
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 8/27/25: X-post – “UM students and workers organizing for divestment from Israel’s genocide and a Free Palestine have been met with violent suppression, surveillance, and slander from UM officials. Today I joined community members to demand an end to UM’s biased, targeted retribution campaign.”
  • Lankford (R-OK) & Rosen (D-NV) 8/25/25: As New School Year Begins, Chairs of Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Call on Universities to Protect Jewish Students
  • Barrett (R-MI) 8/22/25: X-post – “America is under no obligation to allow convicted criminals and terrorists into our country to incite violence and antisemitism. That’s why I joined @RepMoolenaar in sending a letter urging the administration to prevent extremist Hussam Shaheen from traveling to Michigan to speak at the People’s Conference for Palestine in Detroit.” [covered in last week’s Round-Up]
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/22/25: X-post – “The ADL reported 719 antisemitic incidents in New Jersey last year alone. That’s why I’m fighting to make the IHRA definition of antisemitism law in Jersey and across the country. We must do more to protect our Jewish community from the record levels of antisemitism.“
  • Bilirakis (R-FL) 8/22/25: X-post – “As Co-Chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, I’m proud to see my friend @TheLeoTerrell taking a bold stand against antisemitism. He’s made it clear: universities will be held accountable for protecting the rights and safety of Jewish students. There is absolutely no place for antisemitism in our country — not on campus, not anywhere.“

Iran

  • House Foreign Affairs Committee-GOP 8/29/25: X-post – “Positive step by our European allies. A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to the entire world.”
  • Cornyn (R-TX) 8/29/25: X-post – “The snap-back decision is a victory for U.S. diplomacy, and President Trump can keep the pressure on Iran by finally enforcing oil sanctions.“
  • Harrigan (R-NC) 8/29/25: X-post – “I applaud our European allies for triggering snapback sanctions on Iran. Strength is the only language the ayatollahs understand, and this move starves their terror network while tightening the vise on their nuclear ambitions.“
  • Lankford (R-OK) 8/29/25: X-post – “The UN’s decision to wind down its peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, in southern Lebanon is a good thing for Lebanon, Israel, and the region as a whole. Despite UNIFIL’s presence, Hezbollah flourished. Empowering Lebanon to root out Hezbollah and be the sole security guarantor for the Lebanese people is the right call, and a win for Israeli security.“
  • Rosen (D-NV) 8/29/25: X-post – “I applaud the decision by the UK, France, and Germany to reinstate sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, and today’s announcement is an important step in that effort.”
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/29/25: X-post – “Iran’s nuclear program and support for terror threaten Israel, our allies, and the entire world. I’ve long called for our European partners to issue snapback sanctions, and I’m glad to see them follow through. We must all stand together in the fight against Iran’s reign of terror.“
  • Markey (D-MA) 8/28/25: X-post – “Trump’s military attacks on Iran did not stop its nuclear program. Hitting Iran with more sanctions now will only escalate the crisis. Instead of provoking Iran, the EU should work with Iran to resume full international inspections. Only diplomacy—not more war—can solve this.”
  • Wilson (R-SC) 8/28/25: X-post – “Grateful that our European partners have triggered the snapback mechanism reimposing all UN sanctions on the Iranian regime! This is the first time in a decade since full UN sanctions have been imposed on Iran! Iran’s regime is on the ropes and the Iranian people will soon show the region the way forward in their efforts for freedom.“
  • Tenney (R-NY) 8/28/25: X-post – “If true, this is huge. I have led the charge for two years to get the E3 to invoke snapback sanctions through numerous letters, resolutions, & meetings. Snapback reimposes all UN sanctions on Iran, including their nuclear and ballistic missile programs. This will help keep the U.S. & the entire Western world safe.“
  • McCaul (R-TX) 8/28/25: X-thread – “I am pleased our European allies are taking steps to initiate proceedings to ‘snapback’ UN sanctions on Iran. These sanctions—which until 2022 included an arms embargo and missile ban, in addition to nuclear restrictions—should never have been lifted to begin with. The Iranian regime has a proven disinterest in peace. Since the JCPOA was signed, Iran has only bolstered its nuclear program and leveraged its terrorist proxies to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East.I urge the UN Security Council to judge Iran not on empty words, but on these consistent disruptive and destabilizing actions, in clear violation of its JCPOA commitments. Only sustained global pressure can force Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. That is exactly why it’s vital that all UN sanctions be fully reimposed in 30 days time.“
  • Nunn (R-IA) 8/28/25: X-post – “Snapback sanctions are a good first step. In Congress, we’re leading the Maximum Pressure Act—the toughest sanctions ever proposed in Congress—to cut off Tehran’s cash flow, prevent a nuclear Iran, and dismantle its global terrorist network.”
  • McCormick (R-PA) 8/28/25: X-post – “Now that our European allies have invoked the “snapback” sanctions against Iran over its illicit nuclear program, it is imperative that the United States ensure the old UN sanctions regime is enforced among all UN member states. This is critical to ensuring Iran cannot revive its nuclear program and curtailing its ballistic missile development.“
  • Tillis (R-NC) 8/28/25: X-post – “I applaud @POTUS Trump and @SecRubio for working with our European allies to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran. The Iranian regime continues to act in bad faith, and we must ensure that it can never build a nuclear weapon.“
  • Self (R-TX) 8/28/25: X-post – “I applaud the E3—Germany, France, and Great Britain—for its “snapback” of the pre-2015 nuclear deal sanctions against Iran.   The United States and its closest allies must remain united against Iran’s global support for terrorism and nuclear blackmail.“
  • Risch (R-ID) 8/28/25: Risch Statement on the European Snapback of UN Sanctions against Iran
  • Cotton (R-AR) 8/28/25: Cotton Applauds Initiation of Snapback Sanctions on Iran
  • Lankford (R-OK) 8/28/25: X-post – “For decades, Tehran has fueled attacks on Americans, Israel, and our allies. The United States must fully support the reinstatement of snapback sanctions to ensure Iran never has the ability to produce a nuclear weapon. These crippling measures will cut off the regime’s ability to finance terror and remind Iran that the world will not tolerate threats against Americans, Israel, or our allies.“

Other stuff

  • Fine (R-FL) 8/27/25: X-post – “Devastated to learn about the attack in Minneapolis. On October 7th, it was Jews they targeted. Today it was a Christian school. Having served during Parkland, my heart breaks for the victims. We have got to speak with one voice against evil.“

5. Selected Media

Politics/Elex

Opposing Israeli Actions/Policies, or At Least Being Concerned About Them

Defending Israel, No Matter What it Does

Targeting Other Countries & UN  for Not Lining Up with US/Israel

Free Speech/Protest

Other