Pro-Palestinian activists face complicated new decisions as Democrats gather to support a surging Kamala Harris

CNN —

Outside the heavily guarded perimeter of the Democratic convention this week, pro-Palestinian groups are preparing for tens of thousands to march in opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza. On the inside, expectations are murkier – as activists push the Democratic National Committee and Vice President Kamala Harris to take a harder line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The Uncommitted National Movement, which emerged during the Democratic presidential primary to marshal protest votes against the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict, is demanding the party offer a primetime speaking slot to a pediatrician recently returned from Gaza, as well as a series of policy concessions headlined by an arms embargo against Israel.

The mixture of giddy enthusiasm for Harris’ new campaign, which has captivated suddenly optimistic Democrats, and anger among the party’s pro-Palestinian factions over President Joe Biden’s continued support for the Israeli bombardment of Gaza has created an odd, frenetic buzz around the quadrennial gathering. Though little has changed on the ground in Gaza and, increasingly, the West Bank, over the past few weeks, some of the leading progressive groups, anti-war organizers, and Arab- and Palestinian-American activists who were poised to lead the charge in Chicago are facing a starkly different reality from a month ago, when Biden still topped the ticket.

“When Biden stepped aside, many of the people in the Uncommitted camp, anti-war voters breathed a sigh of relief,” said Waleed Shahid, a progressive strategist and co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement. “Then there were some signs of movement. One was Vice President Harris not attending Netanyahu’s speech.