What specific votes has AOC cast on U.S. military aid to Israel, and how did she explain each one?
Executive summary
Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez has cast several high‑profile votes related to U.S. military aid tied to Israel: she voted against the Israel Security Supplemental (H.R.8034) in April 2024, voted “present” on an earlier Iron Dome funding measure, and in July 2025 voted against a Marjorie Taylor Greene amendment that would have stripped $500 million for Israel’s Iron Dome while simultaneously opposing the overall defense appropriations bill that contained other aid [1] [2] [3] [4]. She has explained these choices as principled rejections of offensive aid and of rushed process while arguing narrow amendments sometimes do nothing to stop offensive weapons or munitions flows [5] [1] [6].
1. Vote against H.R.8034 — framing the vote as refusing “offensive” aid
On April 20, 2024, Ocasio‑Cortez joined a group of House Democrats in voting against H.R.8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, saying that supplying offensive military aid would make Congress “complicit” in the continuation and escalation of the conflict and that there was a moral imperative to find another path that prioritized ceasefire, hostage releases, and humanitarian aid [1]. Her office’s statement said members supported bolstering Iron Dome and other defensive systems in principle but stressed that continuing to supply offensive military capabilities risked enabling an expanded and more destructive campaign, especially in light of reports of potential operations like an invasion of Rafah [1].
2. “Present” on earlier Iron Dome funding — an earlier, ambiguous stance
Reporting and her own fact checks indicate that in a prior Congress vote Ocasio‑Cortez cast a “present” vote on a measure that included roughly $1 billion for Iron Dome support, a move that drew criticism for being neither a clear yes nor a no and was widely discussed in media and political attacks [2] [7]. Those records and retrospective fact checks from her office emphasize she has historically positioned herself as opposing “unconditional” aid while struggling with the narrow question of missile‑defense funding amid larger policy concerns [7] [2].
3. July 2025 — opposed MTG’s Iron Dome cut while opposing the overall defense bill
On July 18, 2025, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene offered an amendment to strip $500 million in Iron Dome/missile‑defense funds from the defense appropriations bill; the amendment failed overwhelmingly, and Ocasio‑Cortez voted against the amendment while voting against the larger defense appropriations bill itself [3] [4]. Ocasio‑Cortez explained that she opposed Greene’s amendment because it “does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza,” and she argued that singling out missile‑defense funds did not meaningfully constrain the weapons being used offensively [6] [3]. She and her allies also criticized House leadership for rushing the vote without adequate deliberation, and she said she sought a 24‑hour delay to de‑escalate rancor and allow substantive discussion [5].
4. How supporters and critics interpret those votes — competing narratives
Progressive groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America publicly criticized Ocasio‑Cortez for opposing Greene’s amendment, arguing any support for military aid to Israel was unacceptable and accusing her of inconsistency with earlier condemnations of Israeli actions [8] [9]. Conversely, Ocasio‑Cortez and some allies say her record shows opposition to unconditional aid and emphasize that tactical votes—opposing an amendment that would have no effect on offensive munitions while opposing the larger bill—reflect an attempt to focus on meaningful constraints, not blanket support for Israeli offensive operations [6] [1]. Mainstream coverage noted she publicly pushed back against claims she “voted for military funding,” posting that such assertions were false [10].
5. Limits of available reporting and open questions
The sourced reporting documents the April 2024 H.R.8034 vote, the earlier “present” vote on Iron Dome funding, the July 2025 Greene amendment vote, and her public explanations and pushback [1] [7] [2] [3] [6] [10]. If other roll calls or private statements exist that would further nuance her record, those are not contained in the provided sources; reporting here is constrained to the items cited and the public statements linked to them [1] [5].