Black Muslim group endorses Harris after its 'uncommitted' stance on Biden

A national Muslim organization that had declared itself "uncommitted" on President Joe Biden's re-election bid is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris' candidacy.

Salima Suswell, the founder and chief executive of the Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund, first shared the group's decision with NBC News on Thursday. It's believed to be the first Muslim group in the uncommitted camp to now back Harris.

“She has shown more sympathy towards the people of Gaza then both President Biden and former President Donald Trump,” Suswell said of Harris. “During Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, she decided not to attend. She has repeatedly called for a cease-fire, and I believe she has also expressed empathy towards civilian life and has been very caring as it relates to getting aid to the people of Gaza."

The fund is the political action arm of the nonprofit Black Muslim Leadership Council. Both organizations were started in March with the hope of pressuring elected officials, including Biden, to call for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The group’s endorsement is significant given the backlash the Biden administration has faced from the Muslim community over its handling of the war. Many Muslim groups pushed for an effort they dubbed “abandon Biden,” which called for voters not to support him at the ballot box in uncompetitive primaries and potentially in the fall election.

Since Biden's decision to drop his re-election bid, some other Muslim groups have said they remain uncommitted to Harris' candidacy while saying she has a chance to earn their support by differentiating herself from Biden on Middle East policy.

In March, Suswell made it clear that many of her group’s members were focused on U.S.