(NewsNation) — Vice President Kamala Harris deviated from her stump speech to address the conflict in the Middle East following pro-Palestinian chants at her rally in Arizona on Friday.
Harris was speaking to her followers when some in the crowd began to chant “Free Palestine,” which led Harris to address the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“Now is the time to get a ceasefire deal and get the hostage deal done,” Harris said to widespread cheers and applause.
It is the second time this week that Harris has been interrupted at a campaign rally in Michigan by those protesting the war.
Harris acknowledged that while every voice mattered in a democracy, she was speaking and subsequently chose not to address the chants referring to “genocide.”
The Hill’s Sarakshi Rai told “Morning in America” that Harris is walking a tightrope as it pertains to addressing concerns of the Jewish community while simultaneously showing concern for those in Palestine.
“When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in town and she met with him, she really doubled down that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, but also expressed empathy for the Palestinians in Gaza and focused on their safety,” Rai said.
“She expressed empathy, but they say empathy is not something that helps their families in Gaza. So she’s going to have to thread a very fine line on this issue, as I’m sure it is going to pop up on her campaign trail as well as at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.”