During the Munich Security Conference on March 15, 2024, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic congresswoman from New York, made a controversial claim that U.S. aid to Israel has enabled what she described as a genocide in Gaza. Her statements, delivered in a city known for its historical ties to the Nazi regime, elicited strong backlash from military experts and analysts.
Ocasio-Cortez stated, “To me, this isn’t just about a presidential election. Personally, I think that the United States has an obligation to uphold its own laws, particularly the Leahy laws. I believe that the idea of completely unconditional aid, no matter what one does, does not make sense. I think it enabled a genocide in Gaza.” She referenced the Leahy Laws, which prohibit U.S. funding to foreign security forces that violate human rights, as a framework for her argument.
Critics swiftly condemned her remarks. Tom Gross, an international affairs expert, remarked on the historical significance of Munich, the birthplace of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi movement. He stated, “AOC has flown all the way to Munich… in order to smear the Jewish people further with a phony genocide allegation.” Gross emphasized that such claims contribute to antisemitic sentiments globally.
Military scholars have also challenged the narrative put forth by Ocasio-Cortez. Following a devastating attack by Hamas on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 fatalities and numerous abductions, Israel launched a military campaign targeting Hamas. The conflict has raised complex questions regarding civilian casualties and military ethics.
Danny Orbach, a military historian from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and co-author of the study “Debunking the Genocide Allegations,” stated that Ocasio-Cortez’s accusation is without merit. He explained, “Under the Genocide Convention, genocide requires proof of a special intent to destroy a protected group. The evidence shows the opposite: Israel undertook unprecedented measures to mitigate civilian harm.” Orbach pointed to the establishment of humanitarian safe zones and advance warnings issued prior to military strikes as indicators of Israel’s intent to protect civilians.
The study co-authored by Orbach asserts that these measures were taken even as Hamas employed tactics such as using human shields and constructing extensive tunnel networks. He highlighted the lack of credible evidence to support claims of genocidal intent by Israel, asserting that the allegations do not align with international legal standards.
The discourse surrounding Ocasio-Cortez’s comments reflects broader tensions regarding U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. In December 2024, both Germany and the United States publicly rejected allegations of genocide against Israel, reinforcing the complexity of the situation.
The remarks made by Ocasio-Cortez have sparked debates about the responsibilities of the U.S. in foreign aid and military support, as well as the implications of such discussions within the context of historical atrocities. As the conflict in Gaza continues, the dialogue around these issues remains critical, with varying perspectives shaping public opinion and policy.
