Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), in a recent interview with the Longview News Journal, argued that Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza cannot achieve any further practical goal and that the U.S. should consider withholding some aid to pressure Israel to finalize a cease-fire and hostage release deal.

The comments are especially notable given that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Allred’s rival for the Texas Senate seat, has been aggressively going after the congressman on Israel policy issues. Allred has also generally hewed toward a more pro-Israel stance since Oct. 7.

Allred said that, while he supports the U.S.-Israel relationship, “I am not a supporter of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu’s] actions in Gaza… and the conflict as it’s being pursued now is not in the interest of Israel either.”

He said that there is “no more practical military goal that Israel can achieve in Gaza” now that Hamas is no longer able to carry out an attack similar to Oct. 7, and that he does not believe Netanuyahu and others in the Israeli government have “pursued the release of the hostages and the ending of the conflict with nearly as much effort as I would want to see.”

Allred said he wants to see the return of the hostages — whose plight he said is being overlooked — and an end to the war, adding that he supports the administration’s plan for a cease-fire and post-war reconstruction and ultimately a two-state solution.

He said that the U.S. needs to “use every lever we have to try and encourage both of these parties to reach an agreement,” including — but not limited to — potentially leveraging U.S. aid.

“Our priority has to be to provide Israel with what they need to be safe and secure,” Allred said, expressing support for defensive systems like Iron Dome. “However, if we can create diplomatic pressure, or there are things that can be specifically withheld to influence this situation, we should try and apply that pressure. But It’s not a straightforward situation where you withhold military aid and the conflict ends. This has to be a multi-faceted approach.”

Allred voted earlier this year for additional aid to Israel; Cruz opposed the foreign aid package.

He also said that Hamas shares blame for the current situation in Gaza, saying that the terrorist group “has an interest in increased civilian casualties and who hides among the civilian population.”

Allred said his ultimate goal is to see an “independent and peaceful Palestinian state next to a stable, secure Jewish democratic state in Israel… but fundamentally, we have to get these parties to agree to it. That means having the leaders in place who will reach the agreement and can execute it.”

A Cruz campaign spokesperson slammed Allred’s comments.

“Colin Allred is now admitting what he has denied all along. He supports the Biden-Harris administration’s push to force Israel into a permanent ceasefire that leaves Hamas intact and able to commit more October 7s,” the spokesperson said. 

“This position is the exact same one he and the administration took months ago, when they tried to prevent Israel from going into Rafah, and thankfully Israel ignored them and went on to rescue hostages, save lives, and destroy most of Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure there. It is appalling Allred is doubling down on these failed pro-Hamas talking points and lies.”