JB Pritzker: Blocking arms sales sends Israel ‘the right kind of message’
The Illinois governor’s remarks reflect growing Democratic criticism of Israel over Gaza aid among 2028 presidential hopefuls
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on June 26. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
By Jacob Kornbluh August 10, 2025
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sunday endorsed a Senate push to block U.S. arms sales to Israel, calling it “the right kind of message” to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the humanitarian crisis and reports of starvation in Gaza.
“It’s the right kind of message, which is that Israel needs to make sure that the food assistance that ought to go to innocent Palestinians arrives there,” Pritzker said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “And they should do everything in their power to prevent the starvation that I think we’ve all seen.”
A record 27 Senate Democrats — a majority of the caucus — supported the pair of resolutions introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Jewish Vermont Independent and longtime critic of U.S. aid to Israel, to block weapons transfers. In an April vote, only 15 Democrats supported similar resolutions.
While the measures were defeated by a bipartisan majority of more than 70 senators, they reflected a growing willingness among mainstream Democrats to publicly challenge Israeli policy.
Pritzker, who is Jewish and governs a state with one of the largest Palestinian-American populations in the country, has become one of the most prominent voices of resistance to President Donald Trump. In recent months, he has repeatedly invoked Nazi Germany in criticizing the administration’s policies, and has fueled speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid.
In his remarks on Sunday, Pritzker said Israel has a right to defend itself and target Hamas strongholds in Gaza, but should not “target or have ill effect as best they can on the innocent people of Gaza.” He also called for Hamas to release the remaining 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is also Jewish and mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, recently called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of international hunger reports “abhorrent” and “wrong.” Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor who is also considering a White House bid, said Israel is responsible for the situation in Gaza.
Sanders, appearing Sunday morning on CNN’s State of the Union, said about his failed resolutions: “I think Republicans at the grassroots level are also catching on that it is not a great idea to provide billions to a government that starves children.” He also placed full blame for the worsening hunger on the Netanyahu government, equating the Israeli prime minister with “the guy who is head of Hamas” as a war criminal. “And the United States taxpayers should not be funding Netanyahu.”
Sanders brushed aside questions about a 2028 presidential run, saying he’s turning 84 next month. “I think that speaks for itself.” Pritzker said he’s focused on winning a third term in next year’s gubernatorial election.
Netanyahu vows to press on
Netanyahu defended his cabinet’s decision to launch an operation in Gaza City and the remaining Hamas strongholds in the enclave as essential and the fastest route to end the fighting. “Our goal is to free Gaza, free it from Hamas terrorists,” he told foreign journalists in a press conference on Sunday. “We want to bring the war to an end. This is how we bring the war to an end.”
On Meet the Press, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican ally of Trump, strongly backed the Israeli plan, calling the conflict “Israel’s World War II.”
“Enough already,” he said.”Destroy Hamas. Do to Hamas what we did to the Germans and the Japanese during World War II. Annihilate them and rebuild the Palestinian society, like we did with Germany and Japan. I think we can do that.”
