At a highly energized rally held at the Detroit airport this week, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz found themselves met with both enthusiastic support and a moment of contention when pro-Palestine protesters interrupted the event. While Harris's firm handling of the interruption garnered applause from some attendees, it also underscored the ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party regarding the conflict in Gaza.

During the rally, Harris directly addressed the protesters, emphasizing the importance of democracy and the value of every individual's voice. However, as the interruptions persisted, she urged the protesters to make their position clear by stating whether they wanted Donald Trump to win. This bold response elicited a resounding roar from the crowd, further highlighting the contrasting reactions to the incident within the Democratic base.

Amidst the attention garnered by the protest, another significant moment unfolded for Harris when she met Layla Elabed, co-founder of the national "uncommitted" movement, which seeks to deny votes to candidates supporting Israel's war in Gaza. Elabed, a Palestinian American political activist, had diverted over 100,000 votes away from Biden in the closely contested Michigan Democratic primary.

To Elabed's surprise, the Harris campaign reached out to her and Abbas Alawieh, the co-founder of the movement, to join the rally. In an interview following the event, Elabed recounted her meeting with Harris and expressed her hope for a policy shift to save lives in Gaza. During their interaction, Harris indicated a willingness to meet and discuss an arms embargo, a topic for which Elabed advocated.

However, it became evident that the Biden-Harris administration does not support an arms embargo on Israel, as stated in their public response after the meeting. Elabed, undeterred, stressed that the purpose of the meeting was to voice the concerns of uncommitted voters and help Harris understand the changes necessary to secure their support and deliver key states like Michigan.

As the interview continued, Elabed voiced concerns about being politically manipulated, but emphasized the importance of Harris's campaign meeting with them to discuss the needs of their community. She stressed the significance of uniting the fractured Democratic Party and winning over uncommitted voters who demand policy shifts away from funding a war she considers immoral.

The mood among uncommitted voters in Dearborn, near Detroit and a hub of the Arab diaspora, remains frustrated and grieving. They seek assurance from Harris and the Biden-Harris administration that their loved ones in Gaza will be protected. For Elabed and others, the bare minimum requirement for a change of support would include a policy shift that saves lives and ends the occupation of Palestinians.

Questions have also been raised about Harris's private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite earlier reports suggesting she might snub him. Elabed expressed her concerns over funding a war and aligning with the most extreme far-right government Israel has seen.

Looking ahead to the upcoming election, Elabed made it clear that while voting uncommitted is not an option, she will not advocate for voting for Kamala Harris without their demands being met. She emphasized the need for a policy that guarantees the salvation of Palestinian lives and a clear departure from Biden's stance.

As the race tightens and November approaches, it remains to be seen how the Biden-Harris campaign will navigate these divisions and reconcile with uncommitted voters who demand significant policy shifts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.