Why the US rarely questions Israel about the 1967 USS Liberty attack
Al Jazeera Staff
Decades after Israel's attack on the USS Liberty killed 34 US sailors, survivors accuse both Israel and the US government of covering up a deliberate strike. A fresh call for recognition by Representative Thomas Massie has revived the long-suppressed controversy.
On June 8, 1967, at least 34 US sailors were killed and 171 others injured in an Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, a US Navy technical research ship stationed in the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
Israel has long claimed it was a case of mistaken identity, saying its naval forces thought the ship was Egyptian. However, survivors and researchers reject that explanation. They complain that successive US administrations over decades have failed to uncover the truth behind one of the bloodiest attacks on the US Navy carried out by America's closest ally.
This year, the event unexpectedly gained renewed attention when US Representative Thomas Massie announced he would deliver a House floor speech honoring and commemorating the crew of the USS Liberty.
The events of June 8, 1967
Israeli air and naval forces bombarded the American intelligence-gathering ship in international waters near the Sinai Peninsula during the 1967 war, when Israel captured Sinai, Gaza, and the West Bank from Egypt.
The attack began when Israeli aircraft fired anti-personnel and armor-piercing rounds onto the ship's deck. Israeli motor torpedo boats then blasted a large hole in the starboard side of the American vessel, instantly killing 25 sailors in the research compartment below. A total of 34 sailors died in the attack.
The crew had flown the American flag and even waved at low-flying Israeli aircraft that same morning, making their identity clear. Israel has long asserted it was a tragic mistake, claiming that tired pilots mistook the US Navy ship for an Egyptian warship.
Was there a cover-up?
Nearly 60 years later, documents related to the attack remain classified, survivors and advocates say.
Richard Brooks, the ship's chief engineer, told Al Jazeera in 2015 that "this was not a tragic accident," but rather "a deliberate attack. They knew who we were. They tried to sink us. They wanted us to disappear so they could either blame the Arabs to draw the US into the war, or because we were gathering intelligence about their war plans."
A hastily convened naval court of inquiry was held after the heavily damaged ship was dry-docked in Malta, but proceedings concluded quickly.
Ernie Gallo, president of the USS Liberty Veterans Association, dismisses Israel's "mistaken identity" excuse and accuses the US government of complicity by accepting the false narrative. He continues to demand a full official investigation.
The US Congress has never formally questioned the attack or established a committee to investigate the tragedy.
Representative Massie described the incident as "an unprovoked attack by Israel" and said many survivors are expected to attend his commemorative speech as guests in the House gallery on Monday (June 9, 2025).
Israel's history of spying on the US
Israel shares close military and intelligence ties with the US, with Washington providing billions of dollars in military aid over decades. The two countries coordinate in military operations such as the recent campaign against Iran.
The USS Liberty attack is a dark chapter, but not the only time Israel acted aggressively or conducted intelligence operations against America. Recently, the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) raised the counterintelligence threat level from Israel to "critical" — the highest level.
The warning came after reports that Israeli intelligence agencies intensified collection of information on US military personnel and government officials to intercept policy discussions, as the Trump administration sought a deal with Iran. Israel opposed a deal with Iran because its goal of overthrowing the Iranian government was not achieved in the current war.
Other examples of Israeli espionage against the US include planting spyware on mobile phones of US defense personnel operating inside Israel to eavesdrop on their communications.
Jonathan Pollard, a civilian US Navy intelligence analyst, was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty to transferring a large volume of classified information to Israel. He was released after 30 years in prison.
