Israel-Hamas war adds new urgency to U.S. House speaker fight

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives remains leaderless with an intraparty Republican fight over the next speaker now overshadowed by Hamas’ brutal attack on close American ally Israel that quickly escalated into war.

It’s an unprecedented moment that adds urgency to an already challenging week for fractured House Republicans as they try to agree on who should succeed Kevin McCarthy after ousting him from power six days ago.

The already tense internal GOP conflict grew more complicated over the weekend after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel that has killed more than 700 people, including at least nine Americans. Israel declared war against Hamas, launching strikes in Gaza that have killed hundreds more.

House members are scheduled to return to work Tuesday afternoon. Because the House is currently operating with no elected speaker, the lower chamber is effectively paralyzed. The House can’t pass emergency military aid for Israel until lawmakers seat a new speaker. Additionally, Congress must pass a spending bill to avert a government shutdown by mid-November.

And while the interim speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., participated in an unclassified conference call on the Israel-Palestinian conflict on Sunday night, it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to receive classified briefings in the Capitol this week. (President Joe Biden would need to grant McHenry that authority.)

Given the House leadership void at this crucial moment, McCarthy, who is still a member of Congress, is assuming some roles of his old job. McCarthy plans to address reporters at 11 a.m. ET Monday, likely about Israel, in front of the speaker’s office. He’s already accused Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and other opponents of undermining the national security of the United States and Israel.

“There is nothing the House can do until they elect a speaker, and I don’t know if that happens quickly,” McCarthy said over the weekend on Fox News.

The outbreak of war in Israel has sparked some Republicans to call for McCarthy to be reinstated as speaker so the House can function.

“Removing ⁦[McCarthy] ⁩from office, mid-term, was idiotic. Doing so as Israel faces an all out attack is dangerous. Uncertainty and chaos in the U.S. breeds vulnerability around the world. The House should immediately reinstate McCarthy and stop screwing around,” Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who opposed the ouster, wrote on social media.

It will be an arduous task for a divided and narrow majority. Republicans need 217 of their 221 members to agree on a new speaker, as they don’t expect any Democratic support. It is unclear when the House will hold a floor vote to elect a new speaker.

Two major candidates have stepped into the fray: Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the majority leader and No. 2 Republican, and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a right-wing firebrand and key Donald Trump ally who chairs the Judiciary Committee.

In a press conference on Monday, McCarthy declined to endorse between Scalise and Jordan, and repeatedly kept the door open to returning as speaker.

“That’s a decision by the conference,” he said, adding that he will support its decision. “Unfortunately the House can do nothing without a speaker.”

He added if eight members can throw out a speaker for trying to govern, “no one’s going to be successful.”

He referred to those who moved to oust him as “a few individuals” in the caucus “who love a camera more than they love the American public.”

The Senate, meanwhile, is out of session this week. But Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in light of the attack on Israel, the chamber “will try to hold a classified briefing they can receive in their states as soon as possible so we can get additional details.”

In a statement Sunday night, Schumer said he urged the Biden administration and Defense Department “to ensure Israel has everything it needs to protect itself, and reiterated that the Senate stands ready to deliver on additional needs.”