Shifting US Stance on Israel and Gaza Aid

The article argues that while Democrats have long been divided over Israel, a notable shift is emerging among Republicans: parts of the MAGA movement are growing disenchanted with the U.S.–Israel alliance. Though GOP leaders still profess strong support—symbolized by figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson’s high-profile visit to Jerusalem—grassroots conservatives increasingly question foreign entanglements, foreign aid, and perceived U.S. subordination to Israeli interests. This America First skepticism, amplified by online influencers and populist media, is weakening the once near-unanimous Republican backing for Israel and creating new intra-party fissures that mirror Democratic divisions, potentially reshaping U.S. Middle East policy debates.

Fox News’ Bill Hemmer gained rare access to a Gaza aid distribution site run by the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), staffed largely by former U.S. personnel coordinating with the IDF. He reported rapid, high-demand food distribution amid widespread hunger and war fatigue, with workers fearing Hamas reprisals and requesting anonymity. GHF, which says it has delivered over 106 million meals since May and recently received $30 million from the Trump administration, aims to bypass Hamas but faces UN calls for “immediate dismantling” and allegations of rights violations, which it denies. The visit comes as Rafah lies devastated, Israel weighs a potential full occupation of Gaza, and UN data show most aid trucks fail to reach intended civilian destinations due to interception by civilians or armed actors.

House Speaker Mike Johnson made a privately organized, landmark visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, dining with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Judea and Samaria and meeting Israeli officials in Ariel. The trip, arranged by the U.S. Israel Education Association, also includes meetings with Palestinian leaders. Discussions centered on the Gaza war and aid delivery. The visit’s location is symbolically significant amid Republican efforts to adopt “Judea and Samaria” in U.S. documents and as Israeli officials signal intentions to apply sovereignty to the territory, a move widely deemed illegal internationally. The visit may indicate growing U.S. congressional backing for Israel’s expansionist aims while broader diplomacy over Gaza and Palestinian statehood remains contested.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now running for NYC mayor as an independent, called for rapid delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza while appearing to briefly criticize Israel’s role in impeding aid in a Bloomberg interview. He later clarified he was articulating views held by “some people,” not his own, and said all parties—including Israel, Palestinian authorities, the U.N., and the Red Cross—must expedite food and water. Cuomo, who has centered strong pro-Israel positions in his campaign and previously said he’d join Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal defense, attacked Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani as “pro-Hamas,” a claim contradicted by Mamdani’s record; Cuomo cited an old song lyric referencing the “Holy Land Five” and Mamdani’s past reluctance to condemn “globalize the intifada.” Prominent New York Democrats, including Brad Lander and Lincoln Restler, criticized Cuomo as self-serving and out of step. The episode unfolds amid shifting U.S. public opinion on Israel, growing Democratic concern over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, and Mamdani’s efforts to reassure voters, including distancing from the “globalize the intifada” phrase.