The Israel-Hamas war: US backing for Israel and the pressure over its conduct

At the United Nations, the United States used its veto on Israel's behalf. In October it vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian pause, saying the text did not mention Israel's right to defend itself.^[3] In December it vetoed a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire,^[11] and days later the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for one in a nonbinding resolution.^[12] The same day, Biden said Israel was losing international support because of what he called indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.^[6] In late December, his administration bypassed Congress for the second time that month to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel.^[2]

Criticism from Democrats grew in 2024. In March, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for new elections in Israel, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had lost his way and was an obstacle to peace.^[13] Later that month, the United States abstained as the Security Council demanded a cease-fire during Ramadan, letting the measure pass.^[14]

Military aid continued alongside the criticism. In April, after months of delay, the House passed a $95 billion package that included aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan,^[4] and after the Senate approved it, Biden signed it into law.^[5]

In May, Austin confirmed that the United States had paused a shipment of bombs over concerns about a full-scale Israeli assault on Rafah.^[7] In July, Netanyahu addressed Congress, defending the war and ridiculing protesters.^[15] In November, the Senate rejected Sen. Bernie Sanders's resolutions to block some offensive weapons sales to Israel.^[16]

In September 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed US support for Israel's vision of military victory in Gaza following Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. Rubio said Trump was unhappy about the attack, while maintaining that the US-Israel alliance remained firm.^[8]

Support for Israel was shifting in Washington. In July 2026, Rahm Emanuel, a Democrat weighing a 2028 presidential run, warned that Israel risked its alliance with the United States unless it changed course,^[17] and in October the pro-Israel group Democratic Majority for Israel offered the party a new framework for the relationship that called for continued security assistance.^[18] On November 3, 2026, Trump said he had made a deal with Netanyahu under which Washington would suspend $4 billion in annual aid to Israel next year, while arms sales would continue.^[9] After Democrats won Congress the next day, Reuters reported that the change, together with growing Republican unease over Israel, could bring the biggest reassessment of US support for Israel in decades.^[19]