After Helping Destroy Gaza, The U.S. Won't Fund Its Reconstruction

The Republican amendment to the annual defense budget is just one of several proposals to restrict humanitarian aid to Gaza.

By Prem Thakker, The Intercept

The House voted on Wednesday to block the U.S. from funding the reconstruction of Gaza, whose destruction was financed by the U.S. to a large degree.

The provision was introduced by Reps. Brian Mast, R-Fla.; Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y.; and Eli Crane, R-Ariz., as an amendment to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense budget. While Democrats opposed the amendment, which passed by a simple voice vote, they did not request a recorded vote.

“They are absolutely at war with one of our major and best allies anywhere across the globe,” said Mast on the House floor before the vote about Gaza as a whole, not specifying Hamas. The Florida Republican, a former volunteer in the Israeli military who has repeatedly made incendiary, anti-Palestinian comments since October 7, said it is “nonsensical” to suggest rebuilding the place that’s been razed by Israeli and American bombs for eight months.