A coalition of progressive groups has called on Democrats to reject political donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee because it has aggressively targeted progressives who have been critical of Israel.

We have watched as AIPAC has done everything it can to silence growing dissent in Congress against [Israeli leader Benjamin] Netanyahus assault on Gaza which has killed over 31,000 Palestinians even as Democratic voters overwhelmingly support a ceasefire and oppose sending more blank checks to the Israeli military, the Reject AIPAC coalition said in a statement.

The statement referred to reports that AIPAC is preparing to spend tens of millions of dollars on the 2024 elections and that the groups top contributors include Republican Party megadonors .

The coalition is made up of about 25 organizations, including Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, the Democratic Socialists of America, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Our Revolution and the Sunrise Movement.

The groups said they would launch a lobbying effort to build on grassroots efforts calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and ending Congress unconditional political and financial support for the Israeli government and its decades of illegal occupation, flagrant violations of international law and human rights, continued annexation of the West Bank, blockade of Gaza, and forced second-class citizenship of Palestinians in Israel.

The coalition said it hopes members of Congress will sign a pledge to not to take AIPAC money just like Democratic voters and their elected officials have rejected special interest groups like the NRA after they cemented themselves as a far-right group out of step with Democratic Party values. Reject AIPAC said it would release the names of lawmakers swearing off AIPAC money in the coming weeks.

The coalition also said it would launch a seven-figure electoral defense campaign of paid media and field organizing to support members of Congress who have been targeted by AIPAC.

For its part, AIPAC is preparing to spend $100 million across various entities in 2024, Politico recently reported , citing unnamed sources. One of those groups is the United Democracy Project, an AIPAC-affiliated super PAC that raised $35 million in the second half of last year and started 2024 with $41 in cash on hand . UDPs top donors include Bernie Marcus, the Home Depot CEO who retired in 2002, and billionaire financier Paul Singer, Slate reported . AIPAC claims to be bipartisan, but its super PAC affiliate spent money only in Democratic primaries in 2022, according to federal records analyzed by Open Secrets .

In a statement, AIPAC defended its political activity.

Our sole criteria for evaluating candidates from both parties is their position on strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, Marshall Wittmann, a spokesperson for the group, told HuffPost in an email. We believe it is entirely consistent with progressive values to stand with the Jewish state. That is why we endorse numerous progressive Democrats who support our democratic ally.