WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden’s decision to pause a shipment of large bombs to Israel earlier this month reflect a shift away from support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza, mirroring a similar shift among some Democrats in Congress.

After the surprise invasion by Hamas fighters that killed 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, all five of Ohio’s Democratic House members—Reps. Joyce Beatty, Shontel Brown, Marcy Kaptur, Greg Landsman and Emilia Sykes—were unified in support of Israel.

More than seven months later, amid pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses and growing international pressure on Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, some Democrats have begun voicing ciriticism of Israel’s conduct in its war with Hamas.

Earlier this month Biden paused a shipment of certain weapons to Israel because of concerns the weapons would add to the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza, especially if Israel were to launch an all-out invasion of the city of Rafah.

Last week, a vast majority of House Democrats, including four from Ohio, essentially endorsed the weapons pause by voting against a Republican bill that would prohibit the administration from withholding the weapons.

“The weapons that are being withheld are ones that would essentially be able to take out the length of four football fields. And that certainly does not, line up with precision,” Brown said. “So while I support Israel's right to defend itself, I do think that there are strategies and tactics and ways in which they can do it more effectively.”

Landsman was one of just 16 Democrats to vote for the legislation.

“All diplomatic and military efforts should focus on are ending the war, getting the hostages home, and rebuilding Gaza,” he said in a statement. “The president’s decision and comments were a mistake, and the Administration should be crystal clear with their support of these goals. The weapons held were not going to be used in a Rafah incursion, and the Administration supports an incursion that helps end Hamas and gets the hostages home.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he and his fellow House Democrats remained committed to Israel.

“The divide is overstated. The Republicans have repeatedly tried to make Israel a partisan issue and divide Democrats, and they have failed,” Jeffries said. “Unity is different from unanimity.”

The Israel-Hamas war could imperil Democrats’ chances in the November elections if significant numbers of young voters opposed to Israel’s tactics in Gaza turn away from the party. Democrats who scale back their support for Israel, though, risk alienating the broader electorate.