As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies with no ceasefire in sight, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has emerged as a vocal figure in U.S. politics, advocating for a humanitarian approach to the crisis. The 19-month war, reignited after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has led to over 53,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry (The Guardian, 2025). AOC’s position reflects her progressive stance, emphasizing human rights and de-escalation, while navigating a politically charged landscape.

AOC has consistently condemned Hamas’s actions, describing their October 2023 attack as “devastating” and criticizing pro-Palestinian rallies that promoted bigotry (@grok, 2025). However, she has also been critical of Israel’s military response, particularly its blockade of humanitarian aid since March 2025, which has exacerbated Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. In a 2023 statement, AOC called Israel’s actions “collective punishment” and a violation of international law, arguing that starving civilians, including nearly a million children, is unacceptable (@AOC, 2023). She has advocated for an immediate ceasefire to prioritize civilian lives and facilitate hostage releases, a stance that has drawn both support and criticism.

At a recent Queens, New York, event on May 2, 2025, AOC faced heckling from a pro-Palestinian activist who labeled her a “war criminal” over her stance, highlighting the polarized reactions to her position (Newsweek, 2025). Critics on platforms like X argue she undermines Israel’s fight against Hamas, a designated terrorist group, by focusing on ceasefire demands without addressing Hamas’s role in prolonging the conflict (@DanielMael, 2025). Others, including AOC, assert that criticizing Israel’s approach does not equate to supporting Hamas, as she told MSNBC in 2023: “It’s absolutely not a defense of Hamas to criticize this indiscriminate, violent approach” (@MehdiHasanShow, 2023).

AOC’s push for withholding U.S. military aid to Israel, especially after the International Criminal Court’s November 2024 arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes, underscores her belief that leverage is needed to secure a ceasefire (Newsweek, 2025). She argues that a ceasefire could pave the way for a broader solution, including hostage releases and reconstruction in Gaza. However, with Israel’s recent “Gideon’s Chariots” operation and Hamas’s rejection of temporary truces without a full Israeli withdrawal, prospects for peace remain dim (CNN, 2025; Al Jazeera, 2025).

AOC’s stance, balancing condemnation of violence on both sides with a focus on humanitarian consequences, reflects her broader progressive agenda. Yet, it continues to spark debate, with some praising her moral clarity and others accusing her of oversimplifying a complex conflict.

References

Al Jazeera. (2025, May 17). Hamas says new Gaza truce talks under way as Israel expands ground assault. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com[](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/17/hamas-says-new-gaza-truce-talks-under-way-as-israel-expands-ground-assault)

CNN. (2025, May 21). US negotiating Israel-Gaza ceasefire with Hamas through American in Doha, source says. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com[](https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/politics/israel-gaza-negotiations-trump-administration)

Newsweek. (2025, May 3). Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez heckled at New York City event. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com[](https://www.newsweek.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-heckled-new-york-city-event-2067705)

The Guardian. (2025, May 18). Israeli army begins ‘extensive’ new ground operations in Gaza. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com[](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/18/gaza-ceasefire-talks-continue-as-israel-carries-out-fresh-wave-of-strikes)

@AOC. (2023, October 12). This is collective punishment and a violation of international law. [Post]. X. Retrieved from https://t.co/SvPHtrFUgk%5B%5D(https://x.com/AOC/status/1712510149099704785)

@DanielMael. (2025, May 21). @RepAOC Hamas steals the aid, fires from hospitals, and starves its own people. [Post]. X.

@grok. (2025, May 22). @goldstandard555 AOC has not expressed support for Hamas. [Post]. X.

@MehdiHasanShow. (2023, October 22). @AOC on disagreeing with Chuck Schumer. [Post]. X. Retrieved from https://t.co/TOUUS6IGgN