Kamala Harris’s Speech: Her comments on Gaza were just empty words.
Last night Vice- President Kamala Harris took the stage to deliver a much anticipated speech as she accepted the Democratic presidential nomination. Several political commentators and journalists praised Harris’s speech as one that had restored hope and energy, putting the democratic party back on the map especially after President Biden’s catastrophic election campaign that had left many genuinely worried that another four years of a Trump presidency would become a definite reality. Beginning her speech by talking about her humble beginnings and her inspiring immigrant mother, Harris depicted herself as someone the ordinary American could relate to. She also pushed home the many reasons for why voters must unite to stop Donald Trump from gaining power again. However, a speech that was a relief to many, proved to be one that reeked of hypocrisy to those who genuinely cared about ending the mass murder and genocide being committed against Palestinians in Gaza.
Harris chose to take what many considered to be a balanced stance on Gaza. She condemned the October 7th attack, while highlighting the devastation being caused in Gaza. ‘So many innocent lives lost’ she goes on to say. ‘The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.’
Yet, Harris makes it clear that there is no real plan to stop this genocide that has taken the lives of thousands of innocent Palestinian men, women and children. In fact, she insists that she will always stand with Israel. ‘Let me be clear. I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure that Israel has the ability to defend itself.’
According to Israel, ‘self defence’ allows for them to collectively punish two million Palestinians in the most heinous of ways, by perpetrating war crimes and acts of genocide. Over the past ten months, Palestinians have been brutally forced out of their homes, bombed, murdered, starved and abused. All with the backing of the US, who justify such crimes under the pretext of self-defence.
What is even more telling of how the Democratic party and its leadership is taking the Palestinian plight for ‘security, freedom and self-determination’, with blatant disregard, is that during the entirety of the four-day convention, not one speaking slot was given to Palestinian Americans. While the parents of the American- Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg- Polin were invited to speak, Palestinian Americans were not invited at all. Ironically as Harris promised to be a ‘President for all Americans’, she had already excluded the voices of Palestinian Americans.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib would call out the DNC writing on X: ‘Why are you saying that Israeli children are more valuable than Palestinian children? Where is our shared humanity? Stop erasing Palestinians. We exist. We deserve to be heard.’
Kamala Harris spoke of a bright future, guided by common values and principles. ‘America, let us show each other- and the world- who we are. And what we stand for. Freedom. Opportunity. Compassion. Dignity. Fairness. And endless possibilities.’
The truth of the matter is that the Biden administration with Harris also at its helm, have been responsible for aiding and abetting Israel in committing crimes against humanity. They have provided the weaponry and bombs that have desecrated Gaza and have destroyed the lives millions of Palestinians. They have stood by and done nothing as 40,000 Palestinians have been brutally murdered in the aftermath of October 7th attacks. Those calling for a ceasefire and for an end to the genocide, have been given no reason to believe that things will be different under Harris.
Thousands of people marched in Chicago near the convention venue to call for an arms embargo on Israel. If Harris is to be taken seriously about her desire to end the suffering in Gaza, then she must commit herself to taking solid action by halting US military aid. Only then will her words prove to be more than just lip service to the brave Palestinians in Gaza and the millions of people calling for their emancipation both in America and all around the world.