FLINT, Mich. — Vice President Kamala Harris met with Muslim and Arab American community leaders before a campaign rally here Friday.
During the meeting, Harris heard the leaders’ perspectives on the elections, as well as the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, the official said.
The vice president “expressed concern at the scale of suffering in Gaza” and “concerned about civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon,” the official said.
“The Vice President discussed his efforts to end the war in Gaza so that: Israel is safe, the hostages are freed, the suffering in Gaza is ended, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to dignity, freedom and self-determination.” the official said, echoing a point Harris had made earlier when discussing the war.
The Israel-Hamas war will spill over into a larger regional conflict like Israel struck blows In Lebanon, the leader of Hezbollah, which was declared a terrorist organization by the United States and Iran, was killed fired rockets in Israel. The war has fueled criticism of the Biden administration’s relationship with Israel from some progressives in the United States.
Harris then emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense Hamas terrorist attacks On October 7. At the same time, he said “The scale of Gaza’s suffering is heartbreaking.”
Harris’ meeting is coming a day later her running mate, Gov. Tim Waltz, met virtually with Emgage Action, a Muslim political organizing group.
Emgage Action CEO Wael Alzayat, who attended Friday’s meeting with Harris, said the group “urged Vice President Harris to do everything in his power to end the war and rebuild the United States if he wins.” politics in the region”.
“Emgage Action also reiterated the organisation’s and the Muslim community’s disappointment in the handling of a crisis that has threatened the well-being of our communities at home and is now escalating into a wider regional war,” Alzayat’s statement continued.
He added that his group asked Harris to “impress upon President Biden the urgency of ending the violence immediately.”
Emgage Harris confirmed Despite saying that “the vice president still has a ways to go” on some issues in September.
On Wednesday, Phil Gordon, the vice president’s national security adviser, met virtually with Muslim, Arab and Palestinian leaders from around the country, according to a source familiar with the planning.
Gordon highlighted the Biden administration’s efforts to end the war in Gaza through a cease-fire and hostage-release deal, which he said would end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the source said. He also expressed concern about civilians in Lebanon.
Also on Tuesday, the campaign launched the coalition group Arab Americans for Harris-Walz.
The Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war caused some Muslim voters and groups will announce they will “abandon” Biden ahead of his decision to drop out, and the pro-Palestinian Safe Movement He refused to support Harris.