Massie enters resolution to honor 34 killed in 1967 USS Liberty incident
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) filed a resolution Tuesday to honor the 34 Americans killed in a 1967 Israeli attack on a U.S. Navy ship that was ruled an accident by both governments, marking the latest move from Massie criticizing Israel.
On June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, the USS Liberty, an American ship deployed to the Mediterranean at the time for an intelligence mission, was attacked by Israeli torpedoes and two fighter jets. The attack left 34 Americans aboard the ship dead and 170 wounded. The Israeli government at the time immediately apologized for the attack on the U.S. vessel, calling it a “tragic error.”
“The Government of Israel immediately assumed responsibility for this error and conveyed its apologies and deep regret for what had occurred and for the grievous loss of life,” Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Avraham Harman wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Dean Rusk at the time.
The CIA concurred with Israel in its determination that the 1967 attack was an accident. However, Massie’s resolution includes quotes from an admiral questioning whether the attack was “a case of mistaken identity.”
“The President should declassify and publicly release all files related to Israel’s unprovoked attack on the USS Liberty,” Massie said in a statement.
Massie, who is a frequent critic of Israel and cited money from Israeli lobbyists as the reason he lost his 2026 primary race to challenger Ed Gallrein, spoke about the 1967 incident on the House floor in early June. He called his proposed recognition of the attack “59 years overdue.”
“They need closure,” Massie said of the USS Liberty survivors in the speech. “Let’s give them closure. Let’s have an investigation. Let’s pass a resolution honoring them. It’s long overdue, and then they can have their justice.”
The resolution is Massie’s latest policy move targeted at the Israeli government, coming just one day after the House blocked his measure to cancel the $3.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel.