House passes $14.3 billion in solo aid for Israel to help fight Hamas

The House of Representatives approved $14.3 billion in additional military aid for Israel as it wages war with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip Thursday, going against the will of President Biden and Senate leaders who favored a joint package with Ukraine.

The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 passed 226-196, with 214 Republicans and 12 Democrats voting in support.

Eleven members were absent.

“Tonight, a bipartisan group of members voted to send immediate aid to Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement following the vote.

“Our supplemental package, which is fully offset, provides Israel with advanced weapons systems, supports the Iron Dome missile defense system, and replenishes American domestic defense stockpiles. This is necessary and critical assistance as Israel fights for its right to exist.

“With antisemitism on the rise both domestically and abroad, it’s imperative that the US sends a message to the world that threats made against Israel and the Jewish people will be met with strong opposition. The Senate and White House cannot let this moment pass, and I urge them to act swiftly and pass this bill as the House did today.”

The House passed $14.3 billion in additional military aid for Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.AP

Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) were the only GOP lawmakers opposed to the emergency funding bill, along with every other House Democrat.

The vote comes as Israel has begun a ground assault in Gaza after Hamas terrorists attacked the Jewish state Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people — including at least 33 American citizens.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), one of the dozen Democrats who voted for the bill, said in a statement that his vote was intended to “send an unwavering signal to the world” of US support for Israel — but looked forward to ultimately passing a bipartisan bill that will come over from the Senate.

“By their own admission, Hamas will not end their terrorist war against the Jewish people until Israel is annihilated. We cannot leave our key democratic ally, Israel, defenseless. It would weaken America’s national security and our fight against terror,” he said.

“America’s mission must be to rescue the hostages, help our ally Israel defend herself and crush the terrorists, and provide much-needed humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians being used by Hamas as human shields,” he added.

“While I do not support the Speaker’s approach to this legislation, we must ensure that Israel has the resources to defeat Hamas and other terrorists, and get every hostage home, including all Americans. The symbol to the world of voting no would have done more damage.”

The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 passed 226-196 largely along party lines, with 214 Republicans and 12 Democrats voting in support.MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

More than 200 additional civilians were taken as hostages back to Gaza, where the Israel Defense Forces continues to carry out airstrikes on senior Hamas commanders as ground troops encircle Gaza City.

On Tuesday, the White House pledged to veto the legislation if it came to the president’s desk, with Biden’s Office of Management and Budget calling it “bad for Israel, for the Middle East region, and for our own national security.”

Biden, 80, also declared at a campaign event Wednesday night that he was pushing for a “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war.

On Tuesday, the White House pledged to veto the House Israel legislation if it came to the president’s desk.AP

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) criticized House Republicans’ bill as a “joke” when speaking with reporters earlier on Thursday.

“We need to stand with Israel. … We need to help Ukraine,” he said. “The Senate will work on its own emergency aid package.”

Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have instead been proposing to pass Biden’s requested $106 billion package that would provide the $14.3 billion in aid to Israel as well as $61.4 billion to Ukraine, $14 billion for US immigration enforcement and $16.55 for Taiwan’s defense and other issues.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) criticized House Republicans’ bill as a “joke” when speaking with reporters earlier on Thursday.Shutterstock

The House legislation, which was introduced by Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas), will be paid for by redistributing all funds from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act that were set aside for the IRS.

Johnson championed the “standalone Israel funding bill” in a Fox News appearance on Sunday, calling it “a present and urgent need.”

He also sought to allay Senate Republicans by informing them in a Wednesday meeting that the lower chamber would pass a separate Ukraine funding bill, a source confirmed to The Post.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) championed the “standalone Israel funding bill” in a Fox News appearance on Sunday, calling it “a present and urgent need.”APAImages/Shutterstock

In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity last week, Johnson also stressed that Ukraine aid needed “accountability,” which Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) said could come in the form of a federal office to audit the use of funds.

The aid package allotted $4 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems to counter rockets from Hamas, $3.5 billion for its military and $1.2 billion for its Iron Beam defense system.

Another $4.4 billion will replenish US military stockpiles as well as boost defense services, military education and training provided to Israel by the Pentagon.

It also set aside $850 million for the Jewish state’s defense from US Army, Navy and Air Force weapons and ammunition stockpiles until Sept. 30, 2026, and $200 million for ongoing diplomatic efforts.

House Democrats who opposed the measure also pointed to a Congressional Budget Office report that it would add $12.5 billion to the national deficit over the next 10 years.AFP via Getty Images

Some House Democrats who opposed the measure pointed to a Congressional Budget Office report that found it would add $12.5 billion to the national deficit over the next 10 years.

Massie, who has long opposed funding foreign military aid, also said on Monday he wouldn’t support the bill because it wasn’t paid for.

“If Congress sends $14.5 billion to Israel, on average we’ll be taking about $100 from every working person in the United States,” he said Monday in a post on X.

“This will be extracted through inflation and taxes,” he added. “I’m against it.”