Representative Ro Khanna plans to deliver a letter to Trump from Democratic lawmakers on the recognition of Palestine. Is your member of Congress on the list? A second Dem letter, this one to Rubio, urges an end to the war.
By Robert McCoy, Reposted from The New Republic, September 25, 2025
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna has collected almost 50 signatures on a petition of lawmakers urging the Trump administration to acknowledge the State of Palestine.
Since the letter was first reported early last month, dozens of House Democrats have signed on, and it now bears the names of 47 representatives, or more than one-fifth of the party’s House members.
“We are writing to request that the United States officially recognize a Palestinian state, as this tragic moment has highlighted for the world the long overdue need to recognize Palestinian self-determination,” the letter states, according to a copy viewed by The New Republic.
Khanna says he hopes to have more than 50 before it is delivered to the White House this Friday (September 25). His office says he is accepting signatories until Friday (September 25) at 4 p.m.
“This week, the UK, France, Canada, and Australia officially recognized Palestinian statehood,” Khanna said in a statement. “We cannot be isolated from the rest of the free world. We must stand up for the dignity and rights of the Palestinian people. That is why I am pushing for the US to join in recognizing Palestinian statehood.”
As the destruction and humanitarian crisis wrought on Gaza by Israel draws increased international scrutiny, 10 countries recognized Palestinian statehood in the past week, bringing the total to 157 of 193 U.N. member states.
“We encourage the governments of other countries that have yet to recognize Palestinian statehood, including the United States, to do so as well,” Khanna’s letter states. An August Reuters/Ipsos poll found that most Americans, 58 percent, agree. Trump, meanwhile, has dismissed recognizing Palestinian statehood, claiming it would be a “reward to Hamas.”
The following are the 47 House Democrats who have signed on to the letter as of Friday afternoon, per Khanna’s office:
- Becca Balint — VT
- Donald Beyer — VA
- André Carson — IN
- Greg Casar — TX
- Joaquin Castro — TX
- Judy Chu — CA
- Danny Davis — IL
- Madeleine Dean — PA
- Diana DeGette — CO
- Christopher Deluzio — PA
- Mark DeSaulnier — CA
- Maxine Dexter — OR
- Lloyd Doggett — TX
- Veronica Escobar — TX
- Dwight Evans — PA
- Bill Foster — IL
- Maxwell Frost — FL
- John Garamendi — CA
- Jesús García — IL
- Robert Garcia — CA
- Sylvia Garcia — TX
- Al Green — TX
- Val Hoyle — OR
- Jared Huffman — CA
- Jonathan Jackson — IL
- Sara Jacobs — CA
- Pramila Jayapal — WA
- Henry Johnson — GA
- Marcy Kaptur — OH
- Ro Khanna — CA
- Zoe Lofgren — CA
- Stephen Lynch — MA
- Betty McCollum — MN
- James McGovern — MA
- Chellie Pingree — ME
- Mark Pocan — WI
- Mike Quigley — IL
- Emily Randall — WA
- Mary Gay Scanlon — PA
- Janice Schakowsky — IL
- Bennie Thompson — MS
- Mike Thompson — CA
- Jill Tokuda — HI
- Paul Tonko — NY
- Nydia Velázquez — NY
- Maxine Waters — CA
- Bonnie Watson Coleman — NJ
House Dems who signed onto H. J. RES. 83, providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services
The bill was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Sponsor: Pramila Jayapal – WA
Cosponsors:
- Rashida Tlaib – MI
- Greg Casar – TX
- Joaquin Castro – TX
- Jesus “Chuy” Garcia – IL
- Al Green – TX
- Henry “Hank” Johnson. – GA
- Summer Lee – PA
- James McGovern – MA
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – NY
- Ilhan Omar – MN
- Chellie Pingree – ME
- Mark Pocan – WI
- Ayanna Pressley – MA
- Delia Ramirez – IL
- Nydia Velazquez – NY
- Bonnie Watson Coleman – NJ
- Donald Beyer – VA
- Veronica Escobar – TX
- Jill Tokuda – HI
Congressman Jake Auchincloss Leads Democrats In Letter Urging Regional Cooperation to End Hamas’s War Against Israel
Reposted from Jake Auchincloss, September 26, 2025
United States Representative Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) and Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Tim Kennedy (NY-26), led 26 other Democrats in a letter urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to work with the Arab League to pressure Hamas to end its war with Israel.
On July 29, 2025, for the first time, all 22 Arab League member states–including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey–supported a joint declaration condemning Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack and calling on the resistance group to unconditionally surrender by freeing all hostages, disarming, and relinquishing control of Gaza.
The lawmakers called on Secretary Rubio to work closely with Israel and move quickly to convene key regional and international partners to broker a coordinated agreement that achieves three vital objectives:
(1) the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas;
(2) the removal of Hamas from political and military control of Gaza; and
(3) a responsible de-escalation of the conflict to protect civilians and create space for reconstruction, governance reform, and peacebuilding.
“We write to urge immediate U.S. diplomatic engagement in response to the historic statement from the Arab League. For the first time, the world’s Arab countries have condemned Hamas’s October 7 attack, called for its disarmament and removal from power in Gaza, called for the release of all the hostages, and endorsed a path toward a two-state solution rooted in security, legitimacy, and diplomacy,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“While there is much we disagree with in the statement, we do believe that this breakthrough presents a rare and urgent opportunity to ensure Israel’s security and create a brighter future for innocent Palestinians free from Hamas through American leadership.”
“Secretary Rubio, we urge you to use every tool available to help bring hostages home, disarm and remove Hamas from power, and lay the foundation for a lasting peace based on mutual recognition, security, and dignity,” the lawmakers continued. “This is a chance to protect Israel–our strongest ally–and align American values with regional momentum, and also leave a lasting legacy.”
“Hamas does not fear another assault — it fears an alternative,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss. “America must bring together the Arab League and Israel to return the hostages, end the war, and govern Gaza without Hamas.”
“With the world’s Arab countries now calling for the release of all hostages, Hamas’s disarmament, and a lasting two-state solution, we cannot miss the chance to broker an agreement,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “Secretary Rubio must step up to the plate and use every tool available to ensure a legitimate and lasting peace deal can be reached that brings the hostages home and allows Israel to be free of the terrorist threat on its doorstep.”
“The war must end, and the Administration has to lead on this,” said Congressman Greg Landsman. “The Administration must work with Israel and the Arab nations that have called for an end of Hamas to build a new coalition for peace.”
“This moment demands American leadership,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “The Arab League’s historic statement condemning the October 7 atrocities, calling for the release of all hostages, and rejecting Hamas’s continued rule in Gaza is an unprecedented breakthrough. It creates an opportunity for diplomacy that strengthens Israel’s security, relieves the suffering of innocent Palestinians, and moves us closer to a lasting two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace and dignity.”
“This is a rare moment when American engagement, working closely with Israel, Arab partners, and other international stakeholders, can make a real difference — helping to free hostages still held captive by Hamas, finally ending Hamas’s violent rule in Gaza, and fostering responsible governance that improves the lives of civilians,” said Brian Romick, President and CEO, Democratic Majority for Israel. “We thank the Democratic Members of Congress who came together to champion this important message to Secretary Rubio and the Trump administration.”
In addition to Auchincloss, Wasserman Schultz, Landsman, and Kennedy, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives:
- Dan Goldman (NY-10)
- Grace Meng (NY-06)
- Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)
- Emilia Sykes (OH-13)
- Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05)
- Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06)
- Jared Moskowitz (FL-23)
- Lois Frankel (FL-22)
- Kim Schrier (WA-08)
- Thomas R. Suozzi (NY-03)
- Jimmy Panetta (CA-19)
- Brad Schneider (IL-10)
- Angie Craig (MN-02)
- Kevin Mullin (CA-15)
- Juan Vargas (CA-52)
- Ritchie Torres (NY-15)
- Chris Pappas (NH-01)
- Eric Swalwell (CA-14)
- Ted W. Lieu (CA-36)
- George Latimer (NY-16)
- Haley Stevens (MI-11)
- Darren Soto (FL-09)
- Greg Stanton (AZ-04)
- Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
- Shri Thanedar (MI-13)
- Wesley Bell (MO-01)
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