Uncommitted co-founder asks Harris to meet with Americans with family in Gaza, Lebanon

The co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement said on Wednesday President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have “repeatedly” declined requests to meet with Americans with family members living under U.S.-backed Israeli assaults in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Michigan resident and Democratic party strategist Abbas Alawieh who has family in Lebanon wrote on social media: “If you’re going to continue sending weapons aimed at our family members, say it to our faces.” 

Alawieh said it is a “simple ask” for Harris to meet with people whose families are affected by U.S. support for Israel’s deadly military campaigns in Lebanon and Gaza. 

Harris has said she opposes calls for an arms embargo on Israel. 

This has been one of the factors the Uncommitted National Movement cited when it announced last month that it would not endorse Harris for president. 

Alawieh’s remarks came amid mounting fears that the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel’s wars on Gaza and Lebanon is damaging Harris’ hopes of winning the key battleground state of Michigan, which has a large Arab and Muslim population.

Alawieh, says that while his family “at this moment is physically safe to the extent that they can be,” he is receiving messages “asking that we choose nice photos of them for their death notices should they become among the over a thousand civilians that the Israeli military has killed using U.S. bombs.”

Alawieh adds that he has worked on Capitol Hill, as well as closely with Biden and Harris’  team to urge them to choose a different approach that saves the lives of his family members, and civilians in general.