House rejects $17.6 billion Israel aid bill

The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected legislation to provide Israel with $17.6 billion in aid amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The lower chamber had attempted to pass the measure under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority. The chamber fell short of that threshold in an a 250-180 vote. 

One day prior, the White House threatened to veto the legislation should it reach his desk and urged Congress to approve Senate legislation pairing Israel and Ukraine aid with border security reforms.

"The Administration spent months working with a bipartisan group of Senators to reach a national security agreement that secures the border and provides support for the people of Ukraine and Israel, while also providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by conflicts around the world," the White House asserted.

Senate Republicans, however, appear poised to stop that bill in its tracks by opposing a procedural motion to allow its consideration of the upper chamber floor later this week.

Last year, House Republicans approved legislation to provide Israel with $14.3 billion in aid that offset the expenditure with matching cuts to the IRS. The Senate voted to table the measure in November.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.