President Joe Biden has offered military and political support to Israel since the October 7 Hamas attacks sparked the Gaza war. The rift between the two governments widens as the Gaza tragedy deepens, with hundreds of thousands affected and a mounting humanitarian crisis. Within the United States, divisions among Democrats and mounting pressure on the president intensify in an election year. The most recent and telling sign of this cooling relationship came on Thursday, when Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer addressed the chamber, describing Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace and urging Israel to hold elections.
“In his heart, his top priority may be Israel’s security, but I believe he has lost the course by letting his own political survival matter more than Israel’s interests,” Schumer said, pointing to Netanyahu’s government as anchored in the past and singling out coalitions with ultranationalist ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir for particular critique.
Schumer is not just a party figure; he is a longtime ally of Israel and one of the most powerful voices in Washington. His remarks signal growing frustration in the capital and a possible shift in how U.S. support for Israel is viewed in the coming months.
Personal criticisms
The speech lasted about 45 minutes. Schumer defended Israel, criticized Palestinian leadership, and included Mahmoud Abbas on a list of four obstacles to peace. He also pressed concerns about a perceived lack of accountability for Gaza civilian deaths, arguing that Hamas’s use of tunnels and human shields should be blamed more clearly for casualties. Yet that portion of the address is not the element likely to inflame authorities in Tel Aviv.
Schumer argued that Netanyahu has been “too willing to tolerate civilian deaths in Gaza,” a stance he said risks dragging American and global support for Israel to historic lows. He warned that Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah state.
Calls for new elections
Endorsing a two-state solution as the only viable path, Schumer said the time has come for elections. “At this critical inflection point, I believe elections are the only way to enable a healthy and open decision-making process about Israel’s future,” he stated. “Israelis deserve a real choice and a renewed debate about the country’s path after October 7.”
He stressed that Washington does not intend to interfere with those elections, but warned that if Netanyahu’s coalition remains in power, the United States may need to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy.
These remarks come amid broader debates in Washington about how to balance support for Israel with concerns over civilian casualties and prospects for peace in the region. The underlying question for many observers is whether U.S. pressure can help steer a path toward stability and a durable two-state framework, even as the Gaza crisis continues to unfold.