Kamala Harris’s Camp Refutes Claim She’s Open to Blocking Weapons to Israel

Vice President Kamala Harris’s camp quickly squashed the idea that the Democratic Party nominee for president supports or voiced support for blocking weapons to Israel.

Harris was in Detroit on Wednesday for a rally and briefly spoke with leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement before a raucous evening speech, during which Harris smacked down pro-Palestinian protesters.

After speaking with Harris, leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement, who refused to vote for President Joe Biden during the primaries over his staunch support for Israel in its war against Hamas, said that Harris “shared her sympathies and expressed an openness to a meeting with Uncommitted leaders to discuss an arms embargo.”

An aide for Harris refuted that claim to Reuters, saying , “Harris did not express a willingness to discuss an arms embargo. But a campaign spokesperson said the vice president did tell members of the Muslim and Palestinian community she would continue to engage with them on the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza, which local officials say has killed nearly 40,000 people.” Reuters did not name the aide, who spoke “on condition of anonymity.”

Harris’s national security adviser, Phil Gordon, also poured cold water all over the claim on X, writing, “@VP has been clear: she will always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law.”

Layla Elabed and Abbas Alawieh , leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement, responded in a statement to the Hill about Gordon’s post.

“We found hope in Vice President Harris expressing an openness to meeting about an arms embargo, and we are eager to continue engaging because people we love are being killed with American bombs,” they said, adding:

When we told Vice President Harris that members of our community in Michigan are losing dozens and hundreds of their family members to Israel’s assault in Gaza, she said back: ‘It’s horrific.’ It’s clear to us that Vice President Harris can lead our country’s Gaza policy to a more humane place. We hope she will meet with us so we can move forward to discuss an arms embargo.

Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza continues to be a point of division within the Democratic Party. Protestors at Harris Detroit rally briefly chanted, “Kamala, Kamala you can’t hide, we won’t vote for genocide.”

Harris replied to them, saying , “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that! Otherwise I’m speaking!”

Halie Sofier the head of the Jewish Democratic Council of America called out media reports for quickly parroting the Uncommitted National Movement’s claim. “ Let’s not traffic in disinformation and lies. The @VP never said she was open to discussing an arms embargo on Israel. That’s patently false, as was confirmed last night by the campaign. Do better with your reporting,” Sofier fumed.

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