Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, in her last stretch toward the presidency, has vowed to end the War in Gaza. On a campaign trail in Michigan, a home for a greater portion of Arab Americans, Harris spoke of the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has claimed more than 43,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced almost all 2.3 million residents of Gaza.
Harris told a rally in East Lansing she was “committed to taking away much of the pain”: “This has been a hard year because of the extent of death and destruction in Gaza, and the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon are heartbreaking.
As president, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza, bring home the hostages, ensure Israel’s security, and uphold the Palestinian people’s right to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination.” The audience erupted in applause.
While many warmed to the promise by Harris, critics said she didn’t explain how to end the conflict, which they told US military assistance to Israel perpetuates. With Election Day closing in, Harris, who is Vice President Trump, a Republican, is making their final pitches.
Ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon has proved a flashpoint issue in the election, with many voters outraged at U.S. support for Israel amid an escalating crisis. Since the start of the Israeli bombings in Gaza after a Hamas attack last October, Harris has said that Israel has a right to defend itself. However, she repeatedly expressed concern about the large number of Palestinian civilian casualties.
With the election looming, Harris is working to notch crucial victories in important battleground states, such as Michigan, which offers 15 electoral votes. Opinion polls indicate a close race, with Trump holding a slight lead nationally. How Michigan goes, alongside other states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which are considered secure Democratic bastions, could prove particularly telling.
With Election Day now little more than a week away, more than 78 million Americans have already cast early ballots, with Democrats holding an advantage of some 700,000 votes over Republicans, according to data from the University of Florida Election Lab.
