DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians in Gaza are closely following the latest developments in the US presidential election scheduled for Nov. 5, with Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, appearing to emerge as their preferred candidate.
This Palestinian preference for Harris over the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, can be explained by her positions and statements critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct of the war in Gaza as well as actions taken by Trump while in the White House, from 2017 to 2021.
Despite the wide support Israel has received from the United States, often across party lines, Palestinians are hoping that the next president will work to halt Israeli military operations in Gaza, now ongoing for more than nine months.
After meeting with Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday, Harris called for a “permanent end” to hostilities in Gaza. “It is time for this war to end,” Harris said in a televised statement. “We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent.”
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.