It is clear that not everyone is happy with the status quo or America’s foreign policy in the Middle East. Kamala Harris’s ascension to the Democratic Presidential candidacy, for example, has coincided with palpable anti-Democrat sentiment amongst Muslim Americans who add up to an important constituency in the upcoming November 2024 elections. In fact, many of them are calling Kamala Harris and the Democratic party out for not doing more on Gaza where "Israel’s" senseless genocide has killed over 40,000 innocent lives.

While Harris is often billed as an alternative to the right-wing, conservative, and pro-"Israel" Donald Trump who had the audacity to declare al-Quds as "Israel’s" capital, her rhetoric at the Democratic National Convention mirrored her rival in almost every way. By calling out "Israel’s right to defend itself," Kamala is distancing herself from Muslim American voters who are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Democratic Party’s tilt toward "Israel" and fleeting references to Palestinian suffering.

This could cost Kamala and her party big time.

Why is that the case? In short, the American Muslim vote matters in US politics. While they constitute about 1% of the total population, they remain a key variable in swing states which could help boost either party immensely in the November 2024 elections. As a result, failure to placate the Muslim vote by not fulfilling demands such as ending arms sales to the Netanyahu regime, preventing the proliferation of Israeli settlements, calling for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from occupied territory, and having the United States secure a two-state solution/Palestinian independence, will cost Kamala and the Democratic Party. The sentiment in that electorate was already anti-Democratic when Kamala’s predecessor Joe Biden bowed out of the electoral race. Back then, only 12% of Muslim American voters stated that they would vote for his party.

This makes the job tough for Harris who is known to be unabashedly pro-"Israel". As a former Vice President and Attorney of South Asian origin, she has so far been hypocritical on Gaza, which has left the Muslim American voter base questioning her credibility. Her speech at the DNC for example, first referred to the "right for Israel to exist and defend itself" and was then followed up with fleeting references to Palestinians living in dignity. Her words caught pro-Palestinian activists, including non-Zionist Jews off guard, which was made worse by them being denied a speaking slot at the DNC at the expense of Israelis. This explains the subsequent sit-in near the entrance to the venue and is a reflection of growing Muslim American anger at the status quo in the Middle East which is being maintained by the Democratic Party.

Perhaps it is wise for Kamala and her cohorts to reflect on notable setbacks that her party witnessed in early 2024. In Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, some 200,000 voters voted "uncommitted" on supporting Joe Biden as part of a protest for Gaza in the Democratic primaries. This clearly entails that without a significant policy shift on "Israel", Kamala Harris risks losing a significant part of the Muslim American electorate with close to 70% of Arab and Muslim voters citing foreign policy or the war on Gaza as the most important factor influencing their vote. In states such as Michigan, where Arab Americans are a small but powerful electorate, a Democratic victory could well hinge on addressing grievances related to Gaza. Conversely, failure to do so could turn the tide elsewhere.

What doesn’t help is Kamala’s hypocritical stance. Her views indicate and reinforce the view that she is no different from Donald Trump, where the latter is at least unequivocal in his views regarding Palestine. Take her recent meeting with Netanyahu as an example. She made it clear to the genocidal regime that Palestinian suffering must end but did not follow that comment with calls for an arms embargo on "Israel". Similarly, when it comes to alleviating the suffering of Palestinian women, children, and the displaced, Kamala’s rhetoric does not translate into concrete action which politically, diplomatically, and economically pressurizes "Israel" to end its genocide.

This is where the average Muslim American, many of whom have been protesting at some of America’s most elite universities against their government’s blanket support for "Israel", are and will remain disillusioned with Kamala Harris.

Cosmetic measures too, will not help. Harris, for example, nominated Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz, who is known to be more sympathetic toward the Palestinian cause than other governors such as Josh Shapiro from Philadelphia, as her running mate. Waltz praised the uncommitted voters as "civically engaged", yet many Muslim Americans reacted with cautiousness given that such civic engagement has not prevented "Israel" from continuing with its genocide and crimes against humanity. This damages the Democratic Party and could damage Harris too if she goes by the same playbook.

For Muslim Americans however, Gaza is priority number one, and ignoring it could well and truly decide the fate of the elections.

Harris is not immune to this fact.