U.S. Sen. Angus King said Monday he no longer supports providing aid to Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, because of the “growing nutrition and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

“I cannot defend the indefensible,” King said in a statement. “Israel’s actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency. What appears to be a deliberately induced famine among a civilian population — including tens of thousands of starving children — can never be an acceptable military strategy.”

In recent days, there has been a growing international response to the crisis in Gaza, where Israel had been restricting food supplies for months. Several European allies have renewed calls for the recognition of a Palestinian state as a way to end the conflict. While President Donald Trump has dismissed that idea, on Monday he did acknowledge the starvation of civilians and children in Gaza, something Netanyahu has not done.

King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Israel was “clearly justified” in responding to the horrific attack by Hamas back in October 2023, but “that tragic event cannot in turn justify the enormous toll on Palestinian civilians caused by Israel’s relentless bombing campaign and its indifference to the current plight of those trapped in what’s left of Gaza.”

He said Israel has a “moral burden” to address the ongoing crisis in the region but has failed.

“For these reasons, I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate — and vote — for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy,” said King, who visited the Middle East in late May. “My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government.”

Maine’s senior U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, also called on the need to expand humanitarian aid in Gaza but stopped short of criticizing Israel’s role.

“We need to find ways to expand the humanitarian aid to Gaza and these efforts must enable the safe and effective delivery of food, water, and medical supplies to innocent people in need, especially children and families,” Collins said in a statement. “But the fastest and simplest way to do this would be for Hamas to return the hostages and to agree to a ceasefire. Instead of doing so, Hamas continues a course of action to prolong this conflict and suffering.

“The United States, alongside the international community, must steadfastly pursue a lasting peace and stability in this conflict that will benefit the entire region, including families in Gaza and our ally Israel.”

Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat representing Maine’s 2nd District, sounded a similar note in a written statement, expressing the importance of delivering humanitarian aid while also placing the onus on Hamas to release the remaining hostages.

“There is no question that the situation in Gaza is dire, which is why I have supported the provision of humanitarian aid ever since Hamas started this war on October 7, 2023,” Golden said. “Distribution of aid in a war zone is complex, but it’s critical that aid — particularly food — make it to civilians who need it. The simple fact remains, though, that Hamas has the power to end this conflict today. Instead, they are dragging out peace negotiations and refusing to release hostages.”

Rep. Chellie Pingree, who represents Maine’s 1st District, has long been an outspoken critic of Israel’s disproportionate response to Hamas’ “unconscionable and unforgivable” attack. Last year, she joined dozens of Democrats who called for pausing aid to Israel and later sought to restrict arms transfers, prohibit sales of offensive weapons and resume aid to Gaza.

Pingree noted that Trump this week acknowledged the “real starvation” in Gaza, and urged Congress to act.

“If Trump can see it, what’s stopping Congress?,” Pingree said in a written statement. “The events of the past year have only reinforced my belief that Israel’s actions in Gaza are incompatible with international humanitarian law, a sickening affront to human decency, and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“This isn’t self-defense or reciprocal warfare. It’s barbarism masquerading as military strategy. Until Israel reverses course — by releasing aid, by agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, and by committing to a future where Israelis and Palestinians are both able to live with the freedom and dignity they deserve — I won’t support sending another dollar of aid to Israel.”