Harris Vows to End Gaza War in Final Pitch to Michigan Voters
With less than 36 hours until Election Day, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris made a bold promise to Arab American voters in Michigan, pledging to end the ongoing war in Gaza if elected, Al Jazeera reports.
Speaking at a rally in East Lansing, Harris acknowledged the devastating impact of the conflict, which has claimed the lives of over 43,000 Palestinians and displaced almost all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
“This year has been difficult, given the scale of death and destruction in Gaza and the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon, it is devastating. And as president, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza, to bring home the hostages, end the suffering in Gaza, ensure Israel is secure, and ensure the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, security and self-determination,” Harris said.
While Harris’s statement was met with applause, she did not elaborate on how she would achieve this goal, particularly given the US’s role as Israel’s largest military supplier.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has become a contentious issue in the campaign, with many voters criticizing the US’s continued support for Israel in the face of mounting casualties and destruction. While expressing concerns about the disproportionate number of Palestinian civilian deaths, both Harris and President Biden have repeatedly affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas attacks.
Despite her commitment to ending the war, Harris has also promised to continue arming Israel if elected. The election is expected to be extremely close, with polls showing a virtual dead heat between Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. Michigan, with its large Arab American population and 15 Electoral College votes, is a crucial swing state for both candidates.
Trump, who visited Dearborn, Michigan, on Friday, also promised to end the conflict in the Middle East. With early voting surpassing 78 million Americans, including 700,000 more Democrats than Republicans, Tuesday’s election remains a tight race.
