Ritchie Torres, a Democrat Congressman from New York, has recently exited the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) due to disagreements with the group’s position on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. This development was confirmed by a knowledgeable source who spoke to The Hill on Tuesday. Notably, Torres is no longer featured on the official website of the caucus.
A firm advocate for Israel, Torres has chosen not to endorse calls for a ceasefire in the conflict, a stance favored by some members of the CPC. His departure signifies another significant change within the caucus, following Representative Lois Frankel’s (D-Fla.) exit in November, as confirmed by her office to The Hill.
The Israel-Hamas war, now in its fourth month, has highlighted divisions within the Democrat Party, particularly between members who support President Biden’s and the party’s pro-Israel factions and those who do not. The administration’s policy towards the conflict has been a point of contention for the party’s more progressive elements on Capitol Hill.
Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), a member of the so-called Squad and one of the CPC’s vice chairs, has been openly critical of President Biden and his administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, faced censure in November by the House of Representatives due to her criticisms of Israel. Furthermore, on a recent Saturday, she encouraged Michigan voters to remain “uncommitted” in the forthcoming Feb. 27 primary, instead of backing Biden.
The Squad members, many of whom are part of the CPC, are confronting challenges in their primaries due to their outspoken criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which followed an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.
Additionally, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the CPC, has faced backlash for her comments on Israel. In July, she referred to Israel as a “racist state,” a statement for which she later issued an apology.