Scoop: Gaza is fueling a growing push among Democrats for Palestinian statehood

More than a dozen House Democrats have now signed onto a letter urging the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state, and at least one plans to introduce a pro-statehood resolution, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The surge in efforts to secure Palestinian statehood is a byproduct of lawmakers' discomfort towards the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.Even some Republicans and staunchly pro-Israel House Democrats have ramped up their criticism of Israeli leadership in recent weeks in response to mounting evidence of a famine in Gaza.Driving the news: Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) are the latest members to have signed the letter, which is being led by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Axios has learned.That's in addition to nine earlier signatories: Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Al Green (D-Texas), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.), one of three Muslim American members of Congress, has also signed on, his spokesperson told Axios.The letter was first reported by Jewish Insider.Zoom in: "This tragic moment has highlighted for the world the long overdue need to recognize Palestinian self-determination," reads the letter to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a copy obtained by Axios.The lawmakers pointed to French President Emmanuel Macron's recent pledge to recognize the State of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, which Rubio harshly criticized."We encourage the governments of other countries that have yet to recognize Palestinian statehood, including the United States, to do so as well," they wrote.Zoom out: The letter comes amid mounting international recognition of a Palestinian state, most notably from France, the United Kingdom and Canada.The U.S. is unlikely to follow suit, however, as the Trump administration has positioned the U.S. as a close ally of Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.Still, even Trump has wavered in recent days, telling Axios' Barak Ravid he is working on a plan to "get people fed" in Gaza after casting doubt on Netanyahu's claims that there is no starvation there.Between the lines: The number of Democrats who have signed on so far is nearly triple the amount who co-sponsored a resolution introduced by Green in 2023 affirming the "State of Palestine's right to exist."That measure was backed by just five of the members during the last Congress: Carson, Doggett, Escobar, Frost and Watson Coleman.Khanna, in a statement to Axios, said he "just started outreach this past week" on the letter and that "the response has been overwhelming."What they're saying: "The recognition would come by embracing the 22 state Arab League Plan just passed this week that calls for a Palestinian state and the recognition of Israel as a Jewish democratic state," Khanna said.Noting that over 147 countries have recognized a Palestinian state, the California Democrat added: "We cannot be isolated from the rest of the free world."Watson Coleman said in a statement: "If we're to see an end to war, famine, and the return of hostages, the recognition of a Palestinian state, contingent on the disarmament of Hamas and security guarantees for both Israel and Palestine, must be a part of that process."What we're hearing: Lawmakers told Axios to expect similar pro-Palestinian initiatives in the coming weeks and months in response to worsening conditions in Gaza."You know there will be," said one House Democrat, saying the situation in the region is "too awful not to have more."Green told Axios he intends to reintroduce a resolution this Congress affirming Palestine's right to exist but still needs to consult staff on the specific language: "Something will be introduced."Go deeper: U.S. support for Israeli military action in Gaza keeps falling: Gallup

Comments

World news

How a livestream from the ocean floor became the latest social media hit

Independent

Trump says he ‘didn’t know’ about Ghislaine Maxwell transfer from prison to Texas Club Fed: ‘I read about it just like you’

about 4 hours ago

Attorney for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has approached Trump administration for pardon: report

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Scoop: House Democrats try to stop a "nasty" internal battle in Texas after redistricting

Scoop: Congress' Democrats threaten investigation if Harvard cuts deal with Trump

Scoop: Top Biden aide was promised $8 million for 2024 win

Scoop: Massie blindsided Mike Johnson on Trump truce

Scoop: Senate Dems launching last-ditch bid to block Trump tariffs

Scoop: Trump envoy Witkoff travels to Israel to discuss Gaza crisis

Scoop: Democrats think they can get their hands on Epstein's birthday book

Scoop: DNC targets vulnerable House Republicans with Epstein ads

Even the MAGA crowd sees it: Trump’s ‘coverup’ in the face of Epstein scoops is making his problems so much worse

Scoop: Cooper plans to enter North Carolina Senate race next week

Scoop: U.S. to mediate Israel-Syria meeting Thursday to avoid new crises

Scoop: Lawmakers press Musk on Grok's antisemitic language

Scoop: The overlooked data Trump economists see predicting a boom ahead

Hospitals scoop up physician practices, driving prices up

Why isn’t Fox News covering the Wall Street Journal’s bombshell scoop of the Trump-Epstein letter?

Scoop: Top Secret Service official targeted in "swatting" attack

Scoop: Israel seeks U.S. help on deals to move Palestinians out of Gaza

Scoop: Why House Democrats didn't try to thwart Trump's $9 billion funding clawback

Scoop: Trump's new Alcatraz prison could cost $2 billion

Scoop: House Democrats shrug off delay tactics to stall Mike Johnson's DOGE vote

World news

How a livestream from the ocean floor became the latest social media hit

More than 100 human rights abuses discovered in immigration detention since Trump took office, senate probe says

Luigi Mangione allowed laptop in prison ahead of murder trial: judge

Trump wants to roll back $7 billion in grants for solar projects in low-income communities

Largest wildfire in the US spreads to more than 126,000 acres in Grand Canyon National Park

RFK Jr cancels $500M in vaccine development after ‘listening to the experts’

Four dead after medical transport plane crashes on Navajo Nation in northern Arizona

Pakistan arrests over 200 activists as they rally to support former leader Imran Khan

Sri Lanka's parliament votes to fire country's police chief over abuse of power

Turkish parliamentary committee begins work on PKK peace initiative

Frequent disasters expose climate risks to infrastructure in South Asia

5.7 quake strikes near the Dominican Republic hours after smaller quake strikes Haiti

Russia says it no longer will abide by its self-imposed moratorium on intermediate-range missiles

Morrocan truck drivers kidnapped by Islamic State group released in Mali

Iran orders a day of business and office closures to relieve electric grid in heat wave

Trial opens in Bali for US man charged with receiving illegal ADHD pills

Iran's president appoints moderate politician to top security post

This man survived Hiroshima - and has a stark warning for us all

How ethnic stereotypes underlie Trump's agricultural vision

Trump admin pulls funding for new mRNA vaccines

Trump: FBI "may have to" help bring back Texas Democrats who fled state

Mum of Israeli hostage Evyatar David delivers blistering message to Hamas apologists

Convicted B.C. killer and bank robber Shawn Merrick up for parole

Near-record rainfall in Calgary prompts soaring number of complaints about mosquitoes

Edmonton Riverhawks break attendance record 3 years in a row

‘I don’t understand why,’ Harbour Cruises owner says, after vessel runs aground

Nearly $30K in fines issued over illegal campfires on B.C. Day long weekend

With Canada No Longer Able to Rely on U.S., Carney Pushes New Markets

‘Superficial’ to compare Canada, Mexico approaches to U.S. tariffs: Anand

Fernie, B.C. residents rally to save cherished ballpark

Ghislaine Maxwell’s cushy prison transfer roils federal prison staffers: ‘This makes me sick’

Stanford University laying off hundreds due to Trump cuts

Trump basher Shawn Fain could get booted as head of UAW as auto locals blast his leadership

Karoline Leavitt gives glimpse into family life with personal post

Greg Abbott just gave Democrats eyeing 2028 the ‘knife fight’ they needed

Apple... cinemas? Tech giant sues movie theater chain

Breast milk-inspired ice cream for sale: ‘Just like mom used to make’

Gaza from above: Chilling footage shows devastation of enclave

Trump says he ‘didn’t know’ about Ghislaine Maxwell transfer from prison to Texas Club Fed: ‘I read about it just like you’

Attorney for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has approached Trump administration for pardon: report

‘I’ll be back’: Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to take on Newsom over gerrymandering in California

Violent crimes dropped 4.5 percent in 2024, FBI says – despite Trump’s claims of out-of-control crime

Hike taxes and reform council tax bands to plug £40bn hole, Reeves told

Did we just lose $7 billion for solar?

Devastating Floods Highlight Beijing’s Water Problems

Family of Irishwoman kidnapped from orphanage ask people to 'keep her in your hearts'

Abbott moves to dismiss fleeing Texas Democrats from office

Trump puts big banks in his crosshairs, claiming discrimination

Missing Michele Ann Joy Bourda 'often swims in cold water and goes on hours-long hikes'

Florida teen accused of killing his parents, calling 911 from nearby church

Bombers’ Jefferson, Vaval get top marks in CFL’s Week 9 honour roll

9-year-old girl on skateboard hit and killed by truck in Spruce Grove

Scores of drug-impaired drivers busted leaving B.C. electronic music festival: police

BC Wildfire Service warns of sharing AI-generated images of fires

August 9: Harmony At Rutherford

No reports of structures lost in Wesley Ridge fire but no timeline for people to return home

'Hiroshima survivor stories were painful to draw'