For over two years, constituents protesting 70,000+ deaths in Gaza have received the same form letter claiming Rep. Ryan has "pushed relentlessly" for peace. A line-by-line fact-check reveals every major claim contradicts his actual voting record.
Hundreds of constituents have protested outside Pat Ryan's offices. They've spray-painted "CEASEFIRE NOW" on his building. They've interrupted town halls with doctors presenting evidence of genocide. They've delivered petitions with hundreds of signatures demanding he take action on Gaza.
His response? A form letter. The same core lies repackaged over months with minor updates.
Key Finding: Every major claim in Ryan's form letter to Gaza constituents directly contradicts his documented voting record and timeline of statements.
The latest version of his letter claims he's "pushed relentlessly for months" for a ceasefire. It declares support for Palestinian statehood. It insists humanitarian aid "must not be restricted." Yet his votes tell a completely different story:
100% voting alignment with AIPAC. Zero co-sponsorships of Palestinian rights legislation. $380,711 from pro-Israel lobbying groups making them his single largest contributor.
Ryan's Full Form Letter
This is the form letter constituents have been receiving since early 2024, with minor updates:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the war in Gaza. I sincerely appreciate your input as I work to represent your interests in Washington.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a war on Israel, entering the country from Gaza and brutally attacking a number of Israeli towns and military bases along the border. During the rampage that followed, around 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered, including women, elderly people, and children, and as many as 200 hostages were taken, including American citizens.
Since the horrific attacks of October 7 and amidst the tragic humanitarian catastrophe that has followed, I've been meeting regularly with constituents to listen and understand their views on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. Informed by these critical conversations, official briefings I've received, and my time on the ground in the region, I remain committed to doing everything I can to both immediately stop the ongoing violence and achieve a lasting peace.
For months, I've pushed relentlessly for a mutual ceasefire to secure the return of hostages, stop the ongoing violence, and send a massive surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza. As the crisis worsens, I continue to call for a lasting diplomatic solution that permits sustained, unrestricted humanitarian aid to reach all those in need. The delivery of food, medicine, and essential resources must not be contingent on political negotiations, restricted by logistical blockades, or held by lack of cooperation. Children are not combatants and human life cannot be collateral.
There is no military solution to this crisis. Only diplomacy can prevent further loss of life. The only path to a lasting peace lies through a two-state solution that guarantees the rights of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Having seen combat myself firsthand, I am strongly opposed to President Trump's recent suggestion that the US take over the Gaza Strip, which would put American servicemembers in harm's way and make lasting peace impossible. I am also deeply concerned by comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as members of his government, opposing a Palestinian state and proposing the resettlement of Gaza. Finally, I am outraged by the escalating violence committed by settlers in the West Bank, and will continue to call out anyone who is not dedicated to achieving peace -- including Hamas, which openly calls for the destruction of the state of Israel and has pledged to repeat the horrific attacks of October 7.
A lasting peace is possible, and the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands we do everything in our power to get there. Alongside my constituents in the Hudson Valley, I will keep pushing relentlessly until we achieve a just and peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Sincerely, Patrick K. Ryan Member of Congress
The Pattern of Deception
This isn't political spin or rhetorical differences. These are documented lies: statements that can be disproven with dates, bill numbers, and congressional records. Constituents writing about mass death deserve honesty about what their representative has actually done.
Lie #1: "For Months, I've Pushed Relentlessly for a Mutual Ceasefire"
What Ryan Claims
"For months, I've pushed relentlessly for a mutual ceasefire to secure the return of hostages, stop the ongoing violence, and send a massive surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza."
This is demonstrably false. Here's what actually happened:
October 16, 2023 — Rep. Cori Bush introduces H.Res.786 calling for "immediate deescalation and cease-fire." Eighteen progressive Democrats co-sponsor immediately. Ryan does not co-sponsor.
October 25, 2023 — 150+ constituents protest outside Ryan's Poughkeepsie office demanding he co-sponsor the ceasefire resolution. He refuses.
December 2023 — Someone spray-paints "CEASEFIRE NOW" on Ryan's Newburgh office. His response? A seven-point "peace plan" that never uses the word "ceasefire."
January 2, 2024 — A constituent interrupts a Gardiner town hall to ask: "How many Palestinians have to die before you support a ceasefire?" Ryan provides no substantive answer.
February 23, 2024 — Four months and 15 days after October 7, Ryan finally uses the word "ceasefire" — but only qualified as "mutual, temporary," only conditional on hostage return. He still never co-sponsors H.Res.786.
Ryan didn't push for a ceasefire for months. Constituents pushed him for months while he avoided the word entirely. He never co-sponsored ceasefire legislation. He only adopted the language under massive pressure, then kept voting for weapons packages.
Lie #2: "The Only Path to Lasting Peace Lies Through a Two-State Solution"
What Ryan Claims
"The only path to a lasting peace lies through a two-state solution that guarantees the rights of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples."
Ryan says he supports Palestinian statehood. Watch what he actually does:
November 2023: Voted YES on H.Res.888 affirming Israel's right to exist. But: When parallel resolutions came up affirming Palestinian right to exist (H.Res.902 in the 118th Congress, H.Res.769 in the 119th Congress), Ryan refused to co-sponsor both.
In September 2025, Rep. Ro Khanna circulated a letter supporting Palestinian statehood recognition. Forty-seven House Democrats signed. Ryan wasn't one of them.
He'll legislatively support Israel's right to exist but refuses to do the same for Palestinians. That's not a two-state solution. That's permanent occupation with progressive-sounding rhetoric.
Lie #3: "The Delivery of Food, Medicine, and Essential Resources Must Not Be Restricted"
What Ryan Claims
"The delivery of food, medicine, and essential resources must not be contingent on political negotiations, restricted by logistical blockades, or held by lack of cooperation."
Ryan wrote this after voting to defund UNRWA, the primary UN agency providing food, medicine, education, and essential services to 5.9 million Palestinian refugees.
Ryan's UNRWA Record
- April 2024: Voted YES on H.R.8034, the $26.38 billion Israel aid package. Section 308 defunded UNRWA through March 2025.
- Voted for the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act continuing UNRWA defunding.
- Refused to co-sponsor: H.R.2411 to restore UNRWA funding
- Refused to co-sponsor: H.Res.473 demanding humanitarian aid delivery during Israel's documented starvation blockade
The words say aid "must not be restricted." The votes cut funding to the main organization delivering that aid.
Lie #4: "I Am Deeply Concerned by Netanyahu's Comments"
What Ryan Claims
"I am deeply concerned by comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as members of his government, opposing a Palestinian state and proposing the resettlement of Gaza."
Ryan claims concern about Netanyahu. Then he arms him unconditionally:
- April 2024: YES on $26.38 billion in weapons to Netanyahu's government
- June 2024: YES on H.R.8369, sanctioning the ICC prosecutor investigating Netanyahu for war crimes
- June 2024: YES on H.R.9495, forcing delivery of weapons Biden paused over Gaza concerns
- Eight Joint Resolutions would have blocked Trump weapons transfers to Israel — $12 billion total. H.J.Res 68, 69, 70, 71, 83, 84, 85, 86. Ryan refused to co-sponsor any of them.
Never voted to condition aid. Never voted to restrict weapons. Never co-sponsored legislation holding Israel accountable for anything.
"Deeply concerned" while writing blank checks isn't concern. It's cover.
Colonial Logic: Iraq War Service as Credential
Ryan invokes his Iraq War experience throughout his Gaza statements. In this letter: "informed by... my time on the ground in the region." In others: "Having seen combat myself firsthand."
Ryan was a Military Intelligence Officer in Iraq from 2005-2009, leading teams of "intelligence analysts, interrogators and technical specialists" targeting Iraqis resisting U.S. occupation. The Iraq War was based on fabricated WMD evidence and killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians.
He presents this as qualifying experience for judging Gaza. He participated in one illegal occupation and cites it as expertise for covering for another.
The Language Reveals Who Matters
Ryan describes Israeli victims with specificity and emotion: "slaughtered," "brutally attacking," "horrific attacks," personalized as "women, elderly people, and children." In his House floor speech, he named constituents: "Judih and Gadi are not combatants or soldiers, but a school teacher and a musician."
Palestinian victims get abstraction: "tragic humanitarian catastrophe" (passive, abstract), "loss of innocent civilian lives" (generic). No personalization of 70,000+ deaths. No names. No mention that two-thirds are women and children. No mention of 9,200+ child amputees. No mention of 94% of hospitals destroyed.
Israeli suffering gets agency, personalization, emotional weight. Palestinian suffering gets abstracted, as if it's a natural disaster rather than the result of weapons Ryan keeps funding.
"Both Sides" Rhetoric, One-Sided Votes
The letter works to sound balanced. Ryan condemns both Hamas and Netanyahu. Supports rights of "both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples." Wants peace for "Israelis and Palestinians alike."
The votes tell a different story:
Pro-Israel Legislation: 100% voting record. Every weapons package, every resolution, immediate co-sponsorship of three October 7 anniversary resolutions.
Pro-Palestinian Legislation: Zero. Refused to co-sponsor H.Res.786 (ceasefire), H.Res.902/769 (Palestinian statehood), H.Res.473 (humanitarian aid), H.Res.409 (Nakba recognition), H.R.2411 (UNRWA funding), eight Joint Resolutions blocking weapons transfers.
When someone says they care equally about both sides but votes exclusively for one side 100% to 0%, that's not balance. That's marketing.
What Constituents Deserve
For over two years, Hudson Valley residents have tried every avenue to reach their representative. Hundreds of protests. Office occupations. Spray-painted demands. Town hall confrontations. Petitions with hundreds of signatures. Doctors presenting evidence of genocide. Families sharing stories of loss.
Ryan's response has been to evolve his language while maintaining identical votes. From calling pro-Palestinian protests "blatant antisemitism" (October 2023) to acknowledging Palestinian suffering (November 2023) to eventually saying "temporary ceasefire" (February 2024).
The rhetoric shifted because constituents kept protesting, kept confronting him, kept demanding accountability. The votes never changed. Still 100% AIPAC-aligned. Still $380,711 from AIPAC making them his single largest contributor. Still refuses to co-sponsor HR 3565 despite over 500 Hudson Valley residents signing petitions and 55+ Democratic colleagues co-sponsoring.
This form letter crystallizes how Ryan operates: moderate the rhetoric under pressure while maintaining identical votes. Claim you're listening while lying about your record. Use both-sides language while voting exclusively for weapons and against Palestinian relief.
Constituents writing about 70,000+ deaths, about children with amputated limbs, about hospitals destroyed, about mass starvation: they deserve honesty about what their representative has actually done.
Instead, they get boilerplate that doesn't pass basic fact-checking.