Pro-Palestinian group: Harris open to discussing Israeli arms embargo

Ahead of an election rally in Michigan on August 7, US Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly met with leaders of the national Uncommitted movement, which advocates for a Democratic election boycott to protest US support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

The organization claimed that Harris expressed willingness to "discuss an arms embargo" on Israel, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

However, the Harris campaign later denied that she agreed to discuss the issue. A source close to Harris told the New York Times that while the vice president referred the group's leaders to her team for a meeting, she did not indicate openness to discussing an arms embargo on Israel.

The campaign stated that Harris "will continue to work so that Israel can defend itself against Iran and terrorist organizations supported by it" and is currently focused on securing a ceasefire and a hostage deal.

The Uncommitted movement reported that its founders, Abbas Alawieh and Layla Elabed, met with Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, to voice their concerns about US arms supplies to Israel and requested a meeting to discuss their demands for an arms embargo. "The vice president shared her sympathy and expressed openness to meeting with Uncommitted leaders to discuss an arms embargo," the group claimed.

During the meeting, Elabed reportedly became emotional, saying, "I am Palestinian, I am the founder of Uncommitted. The voters in Michigan want to elect you, but we need a policy that will save lives in Gaza now. I meet every day with members of the community in Michigan who are losing dozens and hundreds of family members in the Gaza Strip. We need an arms embargo, will you meet with us to discuss this?"

Earlier this year, the organization successfully convinced tens of thousands of voters to refrain from voting for President Joe Biden in the Michigan primaries as a protest against his wartime policies.

At the rally in Detroit, pro-Palestinian demonstrators interrupted Harris' speech multiple times, accusing her of complicity in "genocide" in Gaza and chanting, "Kamala, Kamala, you can't hide, we won’t vote for genocide." Harris responded, saying, "I’m here because we believe in democracy. Everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now. You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking."

Michigan, which has a significant Arab American population, is a crucial state for Harris' presidential ambitions.