Kamala Harris Team Rushes To Downplay Claims That She’s Open To Discussing Arms Embargo Against Israel

Presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ team quickly downplayed claims that she said on Wednesday she’d be open to “discuss” an arms embargo against Israel.

The Uncommitted National Movement, a Palestinian activist group that has been vocally critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, said in a statement Wednesday that it met with Harris during her campaign rally in Detroit on the same day. The activist group said in its statement that it “requested a formal meeting with Vice President Harris to further discuss their demands of an arms embargo and a permanent ceasefire.”

“The Vice President shared her sympathies and expressed an openness to a meeting with Uncommitted leaders to discuss an arms embargo,” the group said in its statement. The members who had met with Harris “thanked the Vice President for her openness to engaging with the demands of Uncommitted voters.”

Harris has not since publicly addressed the claims made by the group or whether she’d be open to discussions about an arms embargo against Israel. As of Thursday, she had not held a single interview with reporters since July 21, when she announced her candidacy for president.

Though Harris herself has not spoken about the matter, her national security adviser, Phil Gordon, said in a statement on Thursday that she has been “clear” about the issue, claiming that “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.”