Democrat Civil War Reaches New Heights

A major divide among Democrats over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was dramatically highlighted when Vice President Kamala Harris was interrupted as she delivered a speech at a holiday party.

President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party establishment have faced fierce criticism from the left for continuing to strongly support Israel more than two months after it was hit in a surprise attack by Islamist militant group Hamas October 7. While the attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, over 18,000 Palestinians have since been killed in strikes on Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

Progressives have increasingly joined international calls for a ceasefire. However, the Biden administration has opposed the calls while supporting more humanitarian aid, arguing that a ceasefire would give Hamas an opportunity to launch another attack on Israel. The U.S. also vetoed a United Nations (U.N.) Security Council resolution for a ceasefire on Friday.

During a holiday reception in Washington, D.C., on Monday night, Harris was confronted about the administration's stance by Democratic Delaware State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton, who shouted a demand for a ceasefire from the crowd.

"Did you know that in Bethlehem, they're not celebrating Christmas," Wilson-Anton said. "Did you know that in Bethlehem, baby Jesus is under rubble? Why won't you call for a ceasefire."

"I appreciate you wanting to be heard, but right now I'm speaking," Harris responded, returning to her speech as Wilson-Anton appeared to be led out of the room while carrying a large "Ceasefire" banner.

Newsweek reached out for comment to the office of Harris via email on Tuesday.

Wilson-Anton's interruption was far from the only time that a progressive Democrat has loudly criticized the handling of the conflict by the party's mainstream. Previous incidents include Biden being heckled over the matter and a recent ceasefire protest in a Senate office building.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the administration last week in a post to X, formerly Twitter, after the U.N. ceasefire resolution was vetoed, arguing that a professed "concern for Palestinians and human rights" was not credible while backing "the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza."

Prominent Democrats have also been publicly confronted at close quarters over the issue. Journalist Aaron Maté of left-wing news website The Greyzone confronted Democratic Senator Chris Coons on a train last month, telling the senator that "kids are being massacred in Gaza" and repeatedly asking why he had not called for a ceasefire.

"You've already asked me five times, I'm not going to call for a ceasefire," Coons told Maté. "I strongly support humanitarian pauses. I've urged the Israeli government to target their campaign towards Hamas."

Biden has recently changed his messaging on the issue to some degree, warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week that he was "starting to lose support" for the attack on Gaza due to the mounting death toll.

Polling data has indicated that urging Israel to show more restraint could help Biden win back support from some Democrats who have soured on the president due to his stance on the conflict.

Julie Norman, professor of politics and international relations at University College London, previously told Newsweek that a "shift in messaging from the White House" may help Biden's polling numbers but his approval rating would likely "continue to go up and down."