USS Liberty survivor burns 'Israeli' flag on July 4th

• Phil Tourney criticized what he called "Zionist members of Congress".
• He urged lawmakers to prioritize US interests.
• Tourney also endorsed Thomas Massie for a potential 2028 presidential run.
• Phil and other USS Liberty survivors continue to dispute 'Israel's' mistaken-identity explanation for the 1967 attack.

Phil Tourney, a prominent survivor of the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty and current president of the USS Liberty Veterans Association, marked Independence Day by burning an 'Israeli' flag during a July 4th demonstration on Saturday.

Tourney used the high-profile holiday demonstration to openly challenge Capitol Hill, calling out what he described as Zionist members of Congress and urging American lawmakers to redirect their legislative priorities strictly toward United States domestic interests.

During his address, Tourney also injected himself into future electoral politics, declaring his early endorsement of Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) for the 2028 presidential election.

Persistent six-decade dispute

Tourney is one of the most visible survivors of the June 8, 1967, incident during the Six-Day War, when 'Israeli' fighter jets and motor torpedo boats assaulted the unarmed US Navy technical research ship in the Mediterranean Sea.

The multi-hour assault resulted in the deaths of 34 American servicemen and left 171 others wounded.

For decades, Tourney has documented his firsthand experiences across multiple books, independent documentaries, and media interviews.

He has consistently and vehemently rejected the official conclusions issued by both the 'Israeli' government and an initial US Navy Court of Inquiry, which ruled that the assault was a tragic case of friendly fire stemming from mistaken identity during a chaotic regional war.

Tourney and fellow members of the Veterans Association argue that the ship's markings were clearly visible and maintain that the attack was a deliberate act.

Shifting political dynamics

The public demonstration comes amid a broader, intensifying debate within American conservative circles regarding foreign aid and the long-term trajectory of US–'Israeli' relations.

While mainstream elements within both major political parties view 'Israel' as a core strategic partner, alternative media platforms and libertarian-leaning lawmakers have increasingly questioned the extent of Washington's foreign entanglements.

Tourney's endorsement of Representative Massie highlights this shifting factional alignment. Massie has frequently drawn national attention for casting the sole dissenting Republican votes against bipartisan resolutions affirming financial support or symbolic solidarity with Tel Aviv, arguing instead for non-interventionism and strict fiscal restraint.

Supporters of Tourney view his continuous activism as a patriotic quest for historical accountability and justice for the fallen sailors, whose actions in saving the heavily damaged ship are widely recognized as heroic.

Conversely, critics characterize the ongoing public demonstrations as bitter and counterproductive, pointing to multiple official bilateral investigations that have repeatedly resolved the issue at the state level over the last 59 years.