Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Defends Use of the Term “Genocide” in Criticism of Israel, Calls for Conditional Cuts to U.S. Military Aid

In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) defended her decision to describe Israel’s military actions in Gaza as a “genocide,” doubling down on remarks she made last Friday on the House floor. The New York Democrat said her choice of words was made with “extraordinary gravity,” stressing that her priority was to call attention to what she views as systematic violations of human rights and the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Ocasio-Cortez’s comments have sparked intense debate, with her allies praising her moral clarity while critics accuse her of dangerously overstating the conflict. Yet the congresswoman made clear that she stands firmly by her rhetoric, arguing that her job as a public servant is not to sanitize reality but to confront it head-on.

A Grave Choice of Words

“Language matters, and so does the truth,” Ocasio-Cortez told Tapper. “When I chose to use the word ‘genocide,’ it was not something I took lightly. It was not performative. It was not political theater. It was a decision I made after months of watching indiscriminate bombings, mass displacement, and the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, most of them women and children.”

Her remarks come amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where international organizations, including the United Nations and human rights groups, have sounded alarms about widespread shortages of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies. The congresswoman cited these conditions as evidence that the crisis can no longer be dismissed as collateral damage of war but must be recognized as a deliberate policy choice with catastrophic consequences.

“What do we call it when a population is starved, when children are buried beneath rubble, when hospitals are leveled, and when entire families are wiped out?” she asked. “We cannot keep hiding behind euphemisms while millions suffer.”

Conditional Cuts to U.S. Military Aid

Ocasio-Cortez also pressed for cuts to U.S. military aid to Israel until humanitarian relief is allowed to flow freely into Gaza. The United States provides Israel with about $3.8 billion annually in military assistance, a decades-long commitment that has remained largely untouchable in Washington.

But Ocasio-Cortez argued that unconditional aid sends the wrong message. “Our foreign policy must be aligned with our values,” she said. “If we continue to provide billions in weapons without accountability, we are effectively green-lighting the ongoing suffering of Palestinians. Conditioning aid is not about abandoning Israel’s right to security. It is about ensuring that security is not achieved through the destruction of another people.”

She pointed to the Biden administration’s struggles to balance support for Israel with growing pressure from progressives in the Democratic Party, who argue that the U.S. must take a harder line on human rights. “This isn’t about being anti-Israel,” Ocasio-Cortez emphasized. “This is about being pro-human rights, pro-international law, and pro-peace.”

Pushback and Praise

Her comments have drawn sharp backlash from Republicans and pro-Israel Democrats, who argue that calling Israel’s actions “genocide” is inflammatory and undermines America’s strategic ally in the Middle East.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), a fellow New Yorker and strong supporter of Israel, criticized her remarks as “reckless and irresponsible.” He argued that such language could embolden extremist groups and distort the reality of a complex conflict. “Words have consequences, and equating Israel’s self-defense with genocide is not only inaccurate but dangerous,” Torres said in a statement.

Meanwhile, GOP leaders accused Ocasio-Cortez of aligning herself with anti-Israel movements. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declared, “This is proof of how radical the left has become. To accuse Israel of genocide while it fights for its survival is beyond the pale.”

Yet progressives and pro-Palestinian activists rallied to her defense. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) praised her for “speaking truth to power,” while activists on social media applauded her willingness to use language that reflects the severity of the crisis. “She said what so many are too afraid to say,” one supporter wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Broader Implications for U.S. Policy

The controversy underscores the widening divide within the Democratic Party over U.S. policy in the Middle East. While President Joe Biden has stood firmly by Israel, his administration has faced growing internal dissent, including resignations by State Department officials who believe U.S. policy is complicit in human rights violations.

Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks also reflect a generational shift. Younger Americans, particularly within the Democratic base, are increasingly sympathetic to Palestinians and skeptical of unconditional support for Israel. Polls show that while older Democrats remain staunchly pro-Israel, younger voters are more likely to view Israel’s actions as excessive and disproportionate.

For Ocasio-Cortez, the issue is not just political but deeply moral. “History is watching us,” she said during her CNN interview. “Decades from now, when our grandchildren ask us what we did during this moment of mass suffering, I want to be able to say I told the truth and I fought for human dignity.”

A Defining Moment

As the war in Gaza drags on, the debate over U.S. involvement shows no sign of cooling. Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to call Israel’s actions genocide may further polarize Washington, but it also ensures that the humanitarian crisis remains at the forefront of political discourse.

Whether her choice of words will translate into legislative action—such as conditioning aid or shifting U.S. policy—remains uncertain. But for now, the congresswoman has drawn a clear line: the United States must not bankroll a war that devastates civilians without accountability.

“Silence is complicity,” she told Tapper. “And I refuse to be complicit.”