WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The crisis in the Middle East could become a major policy challenge for Vice President Kamala Harris in her quest for the White House.
 
Harris has called for Hamas to be eliminated in response to the death of six hostages who were found dead in a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

However, Republicans continue to question the administration’s military strategy, particularly after the Afghanistan withdrawal.

How important is foreign policy in Harris’ campaign?

The Israeli Health Ministry said autopsies had determined the hostages were shot at close range and died Thursday or Friday. The army said the bodies were recovered around half a mile from where another hostage was rescued alive last week.

Harris has not taken direct questions about the Middle East in the past 48 hours. However, she has met with President Joe Biden in the Situation Room to be briefed on the cease-fire and hostage agreement and release a statement calling for Hamas to be eliminated.

Harris also wrote on social media about the deaths of the hostages, including 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and spoke with his parents.

The hostages were found in the same area where the Biden-Harris administration had previously expressed concerns regarding Israeli military operations. Harris had criticized an operation in Rafah as a huge mistake and didn’t rule out consequences if Israel pushed forward.

Israel described Rafah as a Hamas stronghold and a haven for hostages.

Harris a ‘wrecking ball’ on Israel: Sen. Lindsey Graham

Republicans, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, have criticized Harris’ policy on Israel, with Graham calling it a “wrecking ball.”

Harris has been outspoken about the Israel and Hamas war, and she has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

Staying involved in the latest developments, she returned to the campaign trail on Tuesday in Palm Beach, Florida — former President Donald Trump’s stomping grounds — where she launched a reproductive freedom bus tour after Trump committed to voting to maintain Florida’s aborting ban.

National Guard vets blast Walz as ‘impersonator’

Meanwhile, questions continue to surface about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Gov. Tim Walz’s military service.

In an interview with Megyn Kelly on Monday, four National Guard veterans who served with Walz accused him of being “an imposter” and claimed that he retired before his unit deployed to Iraq, abandoning his troops.

“He is, again, a liar, because he told me and other sergeant majors in the meetings that you can count on me I will deploy with my unit — his words to my ears,” said Retired Sergeant Major Paul Herr. “If you knew my blood was boiling right now because Walz has done nothing but lied about the —- his entire career.”

In his first interview alongside Harris since becoming the Democratic nominee, Walz stated he’s incredibly proud of his military service and that his military record “speaks for itself.”

When confronted about his earlier claim of serving in the Afghanistan war, despite never deploying, Walz admitted he misspoke and his wife, an English teacher, told him his grammar isn’t always correct.

NewsNation digital producer Katie Smith and correspondent Tom Dempsey contributed to this report.