Last summer, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D- N.Y., voted against an amendment to cut off aid for Israel’s missile defense. Her vote was a striking break with several progressives whom she often has voted alongside, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and enraged many on the pro-Palestinian left.
Afterward, she defended herself on social media by distinguishing between supporting Israel’s defensive military capabilities and its offensive military capabilities. But on Tuesday in a forum with members of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, Ocasio-Cortez pledged to vote against all military aid to Israel, including defensive capabilities, according to a recording obtained by City & State.
That new posture was a striking shift for a potential 2028 White House hopeful who, should she enter the race, would be the standard bearer for the democratic socialist left. Ocasio-Cortez’s more progressive position does not just reflect demands on the left, but the changing dynamics of the Democratic Party as a whole.
Ocasio-Cortez’s new opposition to all military aid to Israel is a welcome change.
Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement to MS NOW, “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. 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.”
Ocasio-Cortez has struggled to take a clear position on supporting Israel in the past. In 2021, she backed off a vote against funding Iron Dome, one of Israel’s sophisticated missile defense systems, in a last-second decision that left her crying on the House floor. Last year, she openly opposed the idea of cutting off Israel’s military defense. And in her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, she dodged taking any clear position questioning party orthodoxy on the issue.
Ocasio-Cortez’s new opposition to all military aid to Israel is a welcome change.
The idea that funding Israel’s defensive military capabilities was simply about protecting “innocent victims” made no sense. First off, in order for such funding to enact neutral, purely human rights-focused support, then the United States would need to back protective technology for both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, the latter of whom are far more vulnerable and have been subjected to genocidal operations in Gaza. Furthermore, contributing to Israel’s military defense would help stack power in its favor as it strikes out at other countries in the region, including Lebanon and Iran. With better defense, Israel, which is already easily the most powerful country in its neighborhood, would be more capable of shielding itself from blowback to its interventions in the region, and thus would be further emboldened to act aggressively.
Politically speaking, Ocasio-Cortez’s blanket opposition to aid to Israel makes more sense. Her previous position seemed to be an awkward attempt to have it both ways — both progressive for opposing offensive weapons and “moderate” for not opposing defensive capabilities. That leaves her open to being hammered from every angle and politically homeless on the issue. “No military aid to Israel” is more straightforward and easier to defend.
At the same time, this is not even a particularly bold position in 2026. Among Americans in general and Democrats in particular, sympathy for Israel has plunged, and sympathy for Palestinians has surged in recent years. The old consensus is broken.
While Democratic Party leadership has remained staunchly pro-Israel, other far less progressive Democrats have recognized these changes in the party’s base. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Reuben Gallego, D-Ariz., both recently announced they will no longer accept donations from AIPAC, as well Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif. Even ultra-moderate Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor and potential 2028 contender, has opposed aid for Iron Dome. The political winds are blowing in a new direction, and Ocasio-Cortez’s new tack reflects that.
Zeeshan Aleem is a writer and editor for MS NOW. He primarily writes about politics and foreign policy.