Washington, DC – Vice President Kamala Harris says she will “not be silent” in the face of Palestinian suffering, as Israel’s war in Gaza rages on.

But Palestinian rights advocates want to know exactly what that means for United States foreign policy.

The vice president — and the Democrats’ likely nominee for the presidency — emphasised the plight of Palestinians in Gaza after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Nevertheless, she pledged ongoing support for Israel.

Activists say expressing sympathy for Palestinians without pursuing a meaningful shift away from the US’s policy of unconditional military and diplomatic support will not help Harris win back voters alienated by President Joe Biden’s approach to the war.

“Without an actual commitment to stop killing the children of Gaza, I don’t care about her empathy for them,” said Eman Abdelhadi, a sociologist at the University of Chicago. She stressed that the US bears “responsibility” for the atrocities committed against Palestinians.

“To be empathetic to someone that you’re shooting in the head is not exactly laudable. We don’t need empathy from these people. We need them to stop providing the weapons and the money that is actively killing the people that they’re supposedly empathising with.”

  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
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    3 months ago

    This is not true. Polls have showed massive support for a ceasefire. Over 70% of Democrats.

    Israel has never allowed Gazans any freedoms while they locked them inside of a concentration camp you mean right?

    • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      70% of democrats supporting a cease fire does not mean Israel does not have significant support. Democrats are not the only voters she wants, she also wants independents and anti-Trump republicans. Cease fires can be temporary.

      https://www.pewresearch.org/2024/03/21/majority-in-u-s-say-israel-has-valid-reasons-for-fighting-fewer-say-the-same-about-hamas/#:~:text=Views of the Israeli government,from 12%25 to 21%25.

      Neither hamas nor Israel allowed Gazans freedoms. Hamas has held power there since being voted in almost 20 years ago, and has never allowed another election.

      • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
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        3 months ago

        Yes the independents and anti Trump voters are also in favor of stronger also anti israel rhetoric. Which is what this article is about.

        Not sure why you felt the need to paste some Hasbara at the end there. You sure don’t seem to have an agenda.

        • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          The article did not say that anywhere, because it is not true. 30% of democrats are not even in support of a cease fire, by your own figure. This gets much higher among our conservatives.

          I do have an agenda, I am against aggressive warfighters that start hot wars, and am in favor of self-determination and accurate information. This seems to be in opposition to your agenda, which appears to be simply anti-Israeli no matter what.

          • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
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            3 months ago

            No you do not call out israel for their brutal oppression you just keep bringing up Hamas.

            Ergo you have a pro israel agenda not an anti agressor agenda.

            • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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              3 months ago

              That’s funny, if you scroll up just a little bit you will see my criticisms of Israeli settlements and violence in the West Bank.

              I simply do not think hamas are some sort of heroes, when they are absolutely demons. The IDF fighting hamas is two evils fighting each other. Siding with either is picking your favorite evil.

              edit because up and down are different directions

              • Eldritch@lemmy.world
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                3 months ago

                Just pointing this out as a public service message. Linky is a well-known bad faith poster. Likely not even from any of the countries involved. And speaking from a position of extreme privilege. Hence why they can argue for unrealistic positions and against the best options we have. But not worry about suffering negative consequences from it.

    • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      And both Biden and Harris support a ceasefire.

      Do 70% of Democrats also support a complete cessation of all weapon sales to Israel? Or ending our diplomatic ties with Israel? Or even a two state solution?

      This is a complex web of an issue. Support for a ceasefire does not translate to support for stopping weapons to Israel, nor anything else about the issue. Don’t pretend otherwise

      • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
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        3 months ago

        Biden and Harris do not support a ceasefire. If they did they would use their leverage to achieve it.

        Words and actions are different don’t pretend otherwise.

    • Timii@biglemmowski.win
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      3 months ago

      A better alternative than letting them free range in a war zone while Israel tries to hunt terrorists and rescue hostages. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

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            3 months ago

            They ruled that it was “likely genocide” and ordered Israel to stop several specific genocidal behaviors.

            Israel of course just called ICJ illegitimate and kept on committing genocide.

              • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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                3 months ago

                Basically same difference.

                It was a preliminary ruling. That’s the closest to “definitely committing genocide” you can get in a preliminary ruling.

                I wonder what your deflection will be when the ICJ warrants are granted and Netanyahu can’t go to most of the world without being arrested…

                • Timii@biglemmowski.win
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                  3 months ago

                  No, all it states is there are grounds to investigate. That is how law works. Innocent until guilty. They would have convicted by now had the evidence been as cut and dry as you think it is.

                  Guilty? Good. Arrest them. Until then due process is paramount in a civilized society that doesn’t execute people for being gay or trans.

                  • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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                    3 months ago

                    No, all it states is there are grounds to investigate

                    Bullshit. “Grounds to investigate” doesn’t come with orders.

                    That is how law works. Innocent until guilty

                    They’ve been proven guilty again and again for 75 years. That the US keep vetoing every resolution doesn’t make the fascist apartheid regime innocent.

                    They would have convicted by now had the evidence been as cut and dry as you think it is.

                    No. As alluded to above, there’s a shitload of pressure from the likes of the US to never hold Israel accountable for their countless atrocities.

                    Guilty? Good. Arrest them.

                    You can’t be this fucking obtuse. You literally can’t think that it’s that simple. 🤦

                    Until then due process is paramount

                    Where’s the due process for the 200k Gazans Israel has killed since October, most of whom were innocent civilians?

                    execute people for being gay or trans.

                    Israel kills a LOT more gay and trans Gazans than Hamas does. Also, it’s not very LGBTQ+ friendly to blackmail LGBTQ Palestinians into informing on their neighbors