House democrats push Trump to recognize Palestinian state: Axios reports
The letter, spearheaded by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), reflects growing momentum among Democrats as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
Lawmakers cite the scale of suffering, including reports of famine and forced starvation, as a driving factor behind the renewed calls for Palestinian self-determination.
'This tragic moment has highlighted for the world the long overdue need to recognize Palestinian self-determination,' reads the letter addressed to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a copy obtained by Axios.
Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) recently joined the initiative, alongside nine earlier signatories including Reps. Greg Casar, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, Maxwell Frost, Al Green, Jared Huffman, Mark Pocan, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and André Carson, one of three Muslim members of Congress.
The letter follows a similar call from French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged to recognize a Palestinian state at an upcoming UN meeting in September. The US remains unlikely to shift its position under Trump, who has maintained a strong alliance with "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Axios.
Khanna told Axios the response to his outreach had been 'overwhelming,' adding that recognition should come in alignment with the Arab League's newly passed two-state plan, which includes recognition of "Israel" as a Jewish democratic state.
Rep. 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.'
The push marks a notable shift in congressional sentiment. Only five Democrats supported a similar resolution introduced in 2023 by Rep. Green affirming Palestine's right to exist. Now, the number has nearly tripled.
Rep. Green told Axios he intends to reintroduce his resolution this session, pending staff consultations on the language. Lawmakers also hinted that more pro-Palestinian initiatives are expected in the weeks ahead.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
an hour ago
- Roya News
Microsoft helping 'Israel' with surveillance to attack Palestinians: report
A joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call has uncovered that 'Israel's' elite military intelligence Unit 8200 is utilizing Microsoft's Azure cloud platform for an extensive surveillance program, storing millions of Palestinian phone calls. This cloud-based system, operational since 2022, has significantly expanded 'Israel's' intelligence capabilities, raising serious human rights concerns . Unit 8200 reportedly sought Microsoft's assistance due to insufficient storage and computing power on its own servers, aiming to process "a million calls an hour". By July 2025, an estimated 11,500 terabytes of 'Israeli' military data, equivalent to approximately 200 million hours of audio, are projected to be housed on Microsoft's servers, primarily in the Netherlands. This marks a shift from monitoring "tens of thousands of suspects" to "millions of Palestinians" . Intelligence sources allege this data has been used to identify bombing targets in Gaza and for coercive purposes, including blackmail and justifying arrests in the West Bank. The collaboration, initiated after a late 2021 meeting between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and then-Unit 8200 Commander Sariel, was viewed internally by Microsoft leadership as a "lucrative business opportunity". Despite Microsoft's public statements of finding "no evidence" its technology was used to harm Palestinians or aid civilian surveillance, leaked documents suggest Microsoft engineers were aware the data would include raw intelligence and audio files. The revelations have intensified protests from Microsoft employees, who have formed campaigns like "No Azure for Apartheid," demanding an end to the company's contracts with the 'Israeli' military.
Roya News
an hour ago
- Roya News
'Israeli' settlers attack Jordanian aid convoy en route to Gaza
Jordan sent 26 trucks loaded with food aid to Gaza on Wednesday, as part of ongoing humanitarian efforts led by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), with direct support from the Jordanian Armed Forces. The convoy, initially planned to be part of a larger aid push, faced serious obstacles during transit through the occupied West Bank. Several trucks were vandalized and delayed for hours due to repeated attacks by 'Israeli' settlers. Despite Jordan's continued efforts, the number of trucks reaching Gaza has dropped to fewer than 30 per day, down from previous daily averages of 100 to 150, further worsening the humanitarian and health crisis in the besieged enclave. Dr. Hussein Shibli, JHCO's Secretary-General, condemned the 'systematic assaults' on aid convoys, calling them unacceptable and in violation of international law. 'These attacks will not deter us from our humanitarian duty to our people in Gaza,' Shibli said, adding that the sharp drop in aid deliveries reflects the severe restrictions imposed on the ground. He emphasized that Jordan, under royal directives, will continue sending aid convoys despite the challenges, in full coordination with the Jordanian military and partner organizations.
Roya News
an hour ago
- Roya News
Wave of 'Israeli' airstrikes pound South Lebanon
The Israeli air force carried out a wave of airstrikes on areas in southern Lebanon, targeting what it claims are attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild weapons depots and military infrastructure, 'Israel's' army radio reported today, Wednesday. The radio station claimed that the attacks are a response to renewed Hezbollah activities in southern regions, but did not disclose specific locations or the extent of the damage. A Roya correspondent reported that 'Israeli' warplanes carried out more than 10 airstrikes, targeting areas around the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah. A series of other 'violent' strikes hit the Iqlim al-Tuffah region.
