Kamala Harris has made it clear that she will not support stopping arms sales to Israel, according to her national security adviser, Phil Gordon.
This statement came a day after Harris was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters at a rally in Detroit. Gordon posted on Twitter (now X) that Harris is committed to ensuring Israel can defend itself, especially against threats from Iran and terrorist groups supported by Iran.
This clarification follows reports that leaders of the Uncommitted movement, who are urging Democrats to protest the election over U.S. support for Israel, claimed Harris was open to discussing an arms embargo.
However, Gordon seemed to challenge this report, stating that while Harris will continue to push for the protection of civilians in Gaza and adherence to international humanitarian law, she remains firm in supporting Israel’s defense.
As tensions in the Middle East rise, especially after the killing of Hamas’s leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has been speeding up its weapons deliveries to Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7.
Both President Biden, who has dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, and Harris herself have called for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The BBC reports that at the rally in Detroit, Harris was confronted by protesters who chanted against her stance on Gaza.
She responded by emphasizing that “everyone’s voice matters” but warned that continued protests could lead to a Trump victory, stressing the importance of her message.
Polls show that Harris is currently leading Trump in key swing states, a significant improvement from when Biden was still in the race.