This divide has intensified since Hamas’s October 07, 2023,
attacks. While there is broad Democratic support for Israel’s right to
self-defense, the severe Israeli response—which has led to over 44,000
Palestinian deaths—has caused a rift, with more liberal voices alleging human
rights violations. This group applauds the ICC’s decision to issue arrest
warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense
Minister Yoav Gallant.
Some Democrats view the ICC’s actions as necessary for
accountability, while others argue it undermines Israel’s right to defend
itself. These divisions were heightened when the ICC also indicted Hamas leader
Mohammed Deif, which did little to mollify Israel’s defenders, who see the
court’s actions as creating false moral equivalencies. Rep. Brad Schneider
(D-Ill.) criticized the ICC’s indictments, while President Biden and other
Democratic leaders called them “outrageous.”
Amid this controversy, some Democrats rejected Netanyahu’s
accusations of antisemitism against the ICC, distinguishing between criticism
of Israeli policy and broader prejudice. The debate has surfaced in internal
Democratic discussions as they examine recent electoral setbacks, with some
arguing that the party’s failure to more vocally defend Palestinian civilians
hurt their prospects.
As the next Congress approaches, with Republicans
controlling both houses and President-elect Trump in the White House,
Democratic divisions over Israel will likely be exploited in legislative
battles. Progressive leaders like Rep. Pramila Jayapal are pushing for adherence
to laws that restrict US aid to countries violating human rights and argue that
if another country behaved like Israel, the US would support international
legal actions. This tension underscores the broader challenges facing Democratic
leadership in navigating the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
