Washington — As Israel’s genocide in Gaza enters its twenty-second month with tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians dead, prominent members of the Democratic Party in the United States are beginning to step back from their long-held public support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling a calculated political recalibration ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The shift, while subtle, is significant. For decades, bipartisan loyalty to Israel was a mainstay of American foreign policy. But mounting public pressure, the overwhelming death toll in Gaza, and Netanyahu’s defiance of both international law and humanitarian norms have created fissures within the Democratic establishment. Even pro-Israel lawmakers are now expressing discomfort, not with the idea of supporting Israel per se, but with standing behind a leader increasingly viewed as toxic, authoritarian, and politically radioactive.
According to CNN, Democratic strategists worry that continued association with Netanyahu could cost the party control of the House and weaken its Senate standing. Democrats currently hope to win back the House and defend more than thirty Senate seats in November 2026. A key challenge, however, lies in balancing domestic electoral interests with the powerful Israel lobby, which continues to wield substantial influence in Washington policymaking.
One of the most vocal breaks came from Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii. Schatz, who is Jewish, stated that Netanyahu’s aggressive policies, including his blanket attacks on Gaza and open defiance of ceasefire resolutions, have not only endangered Israeli civilians but also amplified global antisemitism. “Netanyahu’s extremism is not protecting Jews, it’s endangering them,” Schatz said in a closed-door Democratic caucus meeting, according to aides familiar with the discussion.
Other Democrats, while less direct, are opting to go silent on Israeli matters altogether, avoiding public endorsements, minimizing visits to Tel Aviv, and refusing to comment on Israeli military actions. An increasing number have begun aligning with the party’s progressive wing, which has long called for conditioning aid to Israel and holding Netanyahu accountable for alleged war crimes.
Former President Donald Trump, who remains a powerful figure among Republicans and could challenge Biden again in 2028, has repeatedly pressured Israel to drop corruption charges against Netanyahu. Trump’s overt backing of Netanyahu has inadvertently deepened the partisan divide over Israel, leaving Democrats wary of appearing complicit with a leader now seen as aligned with the American far right.
Meanwhile, voters, particularly younger, diverse, and progressive blocs, are making clear that blind support for Israel is no longer politically tenable. Movements like “Ceasefire Now” and “Not in Our Name” have galvanized mass protests across major US cities, demanding an end to unconditional military support for Tel Aviv and the enforcement of international human rights laws in Gaza.
Despite the strategic distancing, some analysts argue that Democrats may be reacting too late. With Gaza in ruins, over 38,000 Palestinians dead, many of them women and children, and Israel facing potential charges at the International Criminal Court, the political damage may already be irreversible. The party’s reluctance to speak out early and decisively has alienated many Arab-American, Muslim, and progressive voters, potentially suppressing turnout in key battleground states.
The internal Democratic debate underscores a broader geopolitical reckoning. As the world shifts toward multipolarity, Washington’s unflinching support for Netanyahu’s regime increasingly isolates it from both international allies and domestic moral consensus. Whether the Democratic Party’s quiet pivot away from Netanyahu is a genuine moral awakening or just a cynical electoral tactic remains to be seen. Still, it signals the beginning of the end for automatic bipartisan deference to Israel’s far-right leadership.
