The club has reignited debate within the Progressive Party over the war in Gaza and ongoing Middle East tensions, including the conflict with Iran.
Tina Shah is a physician who served as a White House adviser during the Obama administration. She is running in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. In the April 26 recording, she stated that she was a “pro-Israel candidate” and supported “unconditional aid” to Israel, adding that she was the “only candidate who unconditionally supports Israel” in the race for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.
The audio clip went viral on social media platforms such as X and TikTok, prompting strong reactions from progressive activists and pro-Israel Democrats and deepening divisions within the party over foreign policy. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry estimates that 70,000-75,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
The Shah’s comments come as the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to spark political debate in Washington, amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The war in Gaza has drawn international attention to civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions.
The issue has become a key fault line within the Democratic Party. Progressive lawmakers such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have criticized U.S. military aid to Israel and pushed for stronger protections for civilians in Gaza. Sanders has called for restrictions on arms transfers, while Ocasio-Cortez has supported efforts such as the Stop the Bomb Act.
Meanwhile, other Democrats have maintained strong support for Israel. John Fetterman has defended continued military aid and opposed an immediate ceasefire, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has backed Israel while calling for increased humanitarian aid.