Elizabeth Warren: No 'blank check' for Israel amid Gaza war

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Thursday urged the United States to not to provide Israel with further aid unconditionally and to prioritize the pursuit of peace in the region amid the ongoing conflict between Jerusalem and the Hamas terrorist group.

"When it comes to military aid to Israel, the U.S. cannot write a blank check for a right-wing government that's demonstrated an appalling disregard for Palestinian lives. The U.S. should use all the tools at its disposal to condition aid & move the parties toward a lasting peace," Warren posted on X.

Progressive frustrations with the Biden administration support for Israel have escalated in recent weeks. Warren's declaration came one day after a group of campaign staffers published an open letter urging the administration to pursue a ceasefire. In the wake of an Oct. 7 Hamas raid on Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces have invaded the Gaza Strip in a move to oust Hamas from power. Their tactics in the densely populated area and the civilian death toll have prompted international condemnation, including from President Joe Biden, who blasted what he termed Israel's "indiscriminate bombing of the area."

Warren's opposition comes as Congress has not approved a supplemental funding request from the administration for more than $100 billion, including $14.3 billion for Israel and $61 billion for Ukraine. House Republicans have approved a stand-alone Israeli aid bill with matching cuts to the IRS, at which the Senate has balked. In the upper chamber, lawmakers are currently struggling to reach a compromise to pair Ukraine funding with reforms to the asylum system and additional border security measures. The fate of Israel aid appears unclear.

The Massachusetts lawmaker's choice of the phrase "blank check" is notable, however, in that it mirrors ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's phrasing on Ukraine aid.

"Ukraine is important, but at the same time it can’t be the only thing they do and it can't be a blank check," he said in November 2022. Many Republicans have since expressed concerns about corruption in the Ukrainian government and insisted the U.S. should not secure another nation's border without first addressing its own.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.