Kamala Harris calls Palestinian deaths 'unconscionable' as Michigan race tightens
The vice president has faced criticism from some Arab and Muslim voters over the Biden administration’s support for Israel, including in the key battleground state of Michigan.
NEW YORK — US Vice President Kamala Harris called the number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza “unconscionable” in a Sunday interview as she and former President Donald Trump court Arab and Muslim American voters in the final two weeks of the race.
Harris spoke to MSNBC host and African-American longtime activist Al Sharpton in Georgia, one of several swing states she and Trump are vying to win.
“The number of innocent Palestinians that have been killed in Gaza, it’s really unconscionable. We have to be honest about that,” said Harris. "And at the same time, I will always stand in terms of Israel’s right to defend itself. We need this war to end.”
Harris tells Sharpton the number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza is “unconscionable.”
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 21, 2024
“We have got to get this war over with. We got to get the hostages out. We need the war to end.
“And the death of Sinwar I believe has removed an obstacle to that end.” pic.twitter.com/1PASYDswMT
The Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday that the death toll in the enclave has risen to 42,603 people. Around 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted in Israel during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack last year, while 353 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the war, according to Israeli media.
Harris called efforts to achieve a cease-fire in the conflict “difficult,” but said the administration is working on the issue, pointing to Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming trip to the Middle East.
“We have got to get this war over with. We need to get the hostages out,” she said.
Blinken will travel to Israel and unspecified other countries in the region starting on Monday, the State Department said in a statement.
Harris added that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has “removed an obstacle” to achieving a cease-fire.
“The death of Sinwar, I believe, has removed an obstacle to that end,” she said.
Sinwar was killed in a firefight with Israeli troops in southern Gaza last week.
Why it matters: Harris’ comments come as she focuses on the battleground state of Michigan, where Arab American voters could play a pivotal role in deciding who wins. Harris has faced criticism from many in the community over the Biden administration’s support for Israel throughout the Gaza war.
Politico reported on Monday that the “Uncommitted” movement of voters who refuse to back Harris over the war has waned in Michigan, but could still help decide the election thanks to the close poll numbers. The polling website 538 showed Harris with a 47.4% vote share on Monday, compared to Trump’s 47.3%.
Harris held a campaign event in Michigan on Saturday but did not address the war, according to the official transcript from the White House.
Trump has been conducting outreach of his own to the Arab American community, despite his strong pro-Israel views. Much of the engagement has been led by Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany Trump, according to reports.
Trump received a key endorsement in September from the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, Amer Ghalib. Hamtramck is notably the first city in the United States with an all-Muslim city council.
Harris has been running a media blitz in recent weeks. She addressed the situation in the Middle East in an interview with Fox News last week, doubling down on her assertion that Iran is the biggest threat to the United States, referencing the missile attack on Israel earlier this month.
“Iran has American blood on their hands,” she said. “This attack on Israel — 200 ballistic missiles. What we need to do to ensure that Iran never achieves the ability to be a nuclear power. That is one of my highest priorities.”
US President Joe Biden sought to negotiate a possible return to the Iran nuclear deal earlier in his presidency, but the talks have made little to no progress since 2022. Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, calling it “one-sided” and saying it did not adequately hinder Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon.
Know more: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Sunday that the premier told Trump in a phone call that Israel will act based on its own “national interests.” It explained, "Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated what he has also said publicly: Israel takes into account the issues the US administration raises, but in the end, will make its decisions based on its national interests.”
The comments come as Israel weighs how to respond to the Iranian missile attack earlier this month. Washington has been pushing for a limited retaliation and also sent its THAAD missile defense system to Israel.
Trump told reporters on Saturday that he had a “very nice call” with Netanyahu, according to Reuters.
