US Muslim Group Chooses To Support Kamala Harris Despite Disagreeing With War Policy In Gaza

Kamala Harris. (Twitter/@Kamalaharris)

JAKARTA - The United States Muslim advocacy group Emgage Action on Wednesday expressed support for Democratic Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris, despite ongoing concerns over the war in Gaza, saying former President Donald Trump poses a greater danger with his promise to reimpose travel restrictions affecting Muslim-majority countries.

The support comes amid intense competition between Harris and Trump ahead of the November 5 election.

"While we disagree with all Harris policies, particularly about the war in Gaza, we are facing this election with pragmatism and belief," Emgage Wa'el Alzayat said in a statement, adding it was trying to provide "honest guidance to our voters regarding the difficult choices they face in the ballot box," Reuters reported Sept. 26.

Anggage Action, which supports Joe Biden in 2020, said it mobilized 1 million Muslim voters in the election.

The group said support for Harris reflected "the responsibility to defeat Trump and defend the public against what Islamophobia will return and other dangerous policies."

Harris' campaign team welcomed the support a week after another major voter bloc, the pro-Palestinian grassroots organization Uncommitted National Movement, said it would not support Harris, Trump, or third-party candidates.

Harris himself has gained support from smaller Muslim groups, including the Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund and the American Muslim Democratic Caucus.

It is known that American and Muslim Arab voters can play a decisive role in outcomes in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and other battlefield states. These voters helped President Joe Biden beat Trump in 2020 with thousands of votes.

Many Muslim groups, including the Emgage Action, have criticized President Joe Biden's administration, where Harris is the incumbent vice president, for his support for Israel's war in Gaza.

However, Harris has urged an immediate ceasefire and a deal to release hostages in Gaza, saying he supports Israel's right to self-defense and the right of Palestine to self-determine.

Separately, Trump's campaign team has not made direct comments.

His campaign team has held dozens of events with Americans and Muslims in a state whose political direction is still unclear and plans another event this weekend in Michigan, said Richard Grenell, former Trump's national intelligence director, last week.

Earlier, Trump said he would reimpose a "traffic ban" that limits the entry of people from a list of countries most of Muslim population to the United States.

The ban was immediately lifted by Joe Biden shortly after he was sworn in as US President in 2021.