For a voter of conscious, one who opposes the illegal and brutal invasions of Lebanon and Iran, and the unrelenting genocide in Palestine, it is wise to question motive. Is Moulton’s very recent vote to restrict arms to Israel an act of political expediency? Or a genuine change of heart?
In very sharp contrast, Senator Markey has been a consistent opponent of sending U.S. arms that have enabled the slaughter in Gaza, now numbering 1265 killed since the so-called ceasefire was signed in October of last year, with a child killed by Israeli forces every single day, according to the United Nations and UNICEF. Near-daily bombardments, shelling, ground incursions, and sniper attacks have persisted. International organizations and humanitarian groups note that severe blockades, restrictions on medical evacuations, and limited access to food, clean water, and adequate shelter compound the death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza enclave.
In response to this crisis, the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) created a scorecard for congressional actions during 2025–26 to assist voters as we navigate the choices for elected office. The Institute’s research shows a very different voting record between the two lawmakers. Moulton ranks last among Massachusetts’ nine representatives in positive actions concerning Palestinian human rights. Markey, by contrast, is identified as one of the 13 senators nationwide with the strongest record on the issue.
Eight Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) were introduced in the House to block particular types of offensive weapons, while six were introduced in the Senate. According to IMEU, Moulton did not co-sponsor any of the eight House resolutions and has declined to co-sponsor the Block the Bombs Act, which would restrict transfers of certain offensive weapons to Israel, including 2,000-pound bombs. Markey voted for all six Senate JRDs. The record includes Moulton’s April 15, 2026 votes that approved sending Israel Caterpillar D-9 bulldozers, which have been used in the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, and 12,000 1,000-pound bombs.
The two lawmakers have also differed in their responses to congressional efforts concerning the International Criminal Court (ICC). Following the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli officials Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas leaders, Republicans introduced H.R. 23, legislation that would impose sanctions on the ICC and individuals assisting it. Moulton was the only one of Massachusetts’ nine representatives who did not vote against the legislation when it came before the House. His name also appeared on a congressional letter criticizing the ICC’s actions and arguing that Israel’s judicial system was capable of investigating allegations of misconduct. Markey, still himself critical of the ICC arrest warrants, voted in the Senate to prevent H.R. 23 from coming up for a vote.
Another significant difference between Moulton and Markey is with regard to calls for an end to deadly violence in Gaza. Representative Moulton did not support any call for a ceasefire until two days before the ceasefire agreement of October 9, 2025. Earlier, in March 2024, he supported a six-week pause in hostilities tied to the release of Israeli hostages, while continuing to argue that a broader ceasefire was not reasonable while Hamas remained intact. Two days after the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, despite vocal opposition from some who attended a Boston Common event, Markey called for de-escalation of violence on both sides. He subsequently made multiple public calls for a ceasefire. At the 2025 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention, Markey stated, “The US should not be complicit in the horror that is happening in Gaza….We need a ceasefire now. This war must end.”
The voting records of Senator Markey and Representative Moulton on Palestinian human rights and U.S. policy toward Israel differ significantly. Unlike Moulton’s recent votes on some aspects of military assistance to Israel, Senator Markey has a long record of using his position in the Senate to challenge weapons transfers, assert Congress’s authority over U.S. military assistance, support congressional oversight, and call for an end to the violence in Gaza. The shift across the Massachusetts delegation also illustrates the potential impact of Markey’s sustained congressional leadership: Today, every member of the Massachusetts delegation has voted against weapons transfers to Israel.
By: Susan Nicholson and Beth Verani