In a bold move that underlines the deepening divide within the Republican Party, Representative Elise Stefanik, a leading figure in the U.S. House, addressed a caucus of Israel's parliament on Sunday. During her speech, Stefanik called for full military aid to be provided to Israel without any conditions, in support of the ongoing conflict against Hamas in Gaza.

Representing a conservative district in northern New York, Stefanik expressed her strong belief that the United States should provide Israel with the necessary resources to achieve "total victory in the face of evil." Her remarks came as a direct rebuke to President Joe Biden, who recently curbed the delivery of certain weapons to Israel amid concerns over the humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties in Gaza.

In a previous interview with CNN, President Biden had indicated that he would withhold bombs and artillery shells if Israel escalated fighting in the city of Rafah, where numerous Palestinian refugees have sought shelter. However, the Biden administration later announced plans to move forward with $1 billion in military aid to Israel, despite withholding a shipment of 2,000 pound bombs.

During her speech before the Israeli lawmakers, Stefanik, who serves as the House Republican conference chair, vehemently criticized any restrictions that might hinder the fight against Hamas. She stressed that "total victory starts, but only starts, with wiping those responsible for October 7th off the face of the earth." This refers to a lethal attack launched by Hamas inside Israel on October 7th, allegedly resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, including civilians, according to the Israeli government.

The months-long military campaign conducted by Israel's armed forces within Gaza has reportedly claimed the lives of over 35,000 individuals, including numerous civilians, as reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health. Consequently, the violence has raised international concerns and condemnation against Israel, triggering protests on college campuses across the United States.

Stefanik, who has been increasingly involved in House committee hearings focused on alleged antisemitism at U.S. colleges, spoke before a caucus of the Knesset that addressed concerns about antisemitism on university campuses globally. She accused pro-Palestinian activists of advocating for "intifada and genocide" against Jews, dismissing these views as not representative of the American people.

Furthermore, Stefanik revealed her determination to remove top university officials in the U.S. whom she believes tolerate antisemitism. However, critics argue that Republicans may be exploiting legitimate concerns about antisemitism to challenge progressive ideas and liberal leaders. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, expressed this concern in a recent interview with NPR.

At the same time, Israel's political landscape faces internal disagreements on how to proceed with the conflict against Hamas. Centrist member of Israel's war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has threatened to leave the coalition government unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu develops a concrete plan for the future of Palestinians in Gaza. Gantz emphasized the urgency for a strategic reversal, describing the current situation as a "moment of truth" for Israel in a televised speech on Saturday.

As debates over antisemitism and support for the war in Gaza continue to divide opinion in the United States, international attention remains focused on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with no immediate resolution in sight.