Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is among the latest House Democrats to sign a letter urging the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state.
The letter comes as several U.S. allies say they’re recognizing a Palestinian state after reports of widespread starvation in Gaza.
Pingree has been a vocal critic of Israel’s response to a terrorist attack by Hamas in 2023.
She boycotted a congressional appearance by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year and introduced a bill last month to protect aid workers in Gaza.
California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna is leading the letter campaign. Khanna told Axios that he “just started outreach this past week” on the letter and that “the response has been overwhelming.” He further told Axios, “The recognition would come by embracing the 22 state Arab League Plan just passed this week that calls for a Palestinian state and the recognition of Israel as a Jewish democratic state.”
The U.S. is unlikely to recognize a Palestinian state, as the Trump administration has positioned the U.S. as a close ally of Israel. Still, Trump recently broke with Israel by acknowledging the starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Pingree joined a dozen other House members to sign the letter:
Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) , Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Al Green (D-Texas), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.), and Khanna.
