Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said she will oppose all military aid to Israel, even if it’s specifically allocated toward the country’s defensive systems.
At a private virtual event on Tuesday, Ocasio-Cortez told attendees about her stance on Israel, according to The New York Times, after confusion about Ocasio-Cortez’s position on supporting Israel’s air defense systems, known as the Iron Dome.
“I believe the Israeli government is well able to fund the Iron Dome system, which has proven critical to keep innocent civilians safe from rocket attacks and bombardment,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement to the outlet. “Consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and U.S. law.”
The statement comes as a shift from Ocasio-Cortez’s previous support for Israel’s defensive weaponry, including in 2024 when she signed onto a statement with 18 other lawmakers affirming support for “strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems.” She also voted against an amendment to a defense bill in 2025 that would have pulled funding for the Iron Dome, arguing it would cut off defensive capabilities while “allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue.”
But it also comes as public perception on Israel has shifted among voters. A majority of Americans say they now oppose sending military aid to the country, according to a New York Times poll.
The U.S. sends military aid to dozens of countries, including Israel.
Other progressive Democrats have expressed opposition to providing funds to Israel’s defensive capabilities in the past. Reps. Al Green of Texas, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota all voted in favor of the amendment to block funding for the Iron Dome that Ocasio-Cortez opposed.