Key Muslim Group Endorses Harris, Claims Trump Poses Greater Threat – By Reuters

U.S. Muslim advocacy group Emgage Action announced its endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, highlighting that former President Donald Trump’s intentions to reinstate a travel ban on majority-Muslim countries poses a significant threat to the community.

The organization, which previously endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020 and initially backed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, claims to have mobilized 1 million Muslim voters during that election cycle.

Ahead of the upcoming election on November 5, Harris has already received endorsements from smaller Muslim-focused groups, such as the Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund and the American Muslim Democratic Caucus.

Trump’s campaign has not issued an immediate response to the endorsement. He has expressed plans to reinstate a travel ban that restricts entry to the U.S. for individuals from a list of predominantly Muslim countries. Biden reversed this ban shortly after taking office in 2021.

The Biden administration, with Harris serving as vice president, has been urged by both fellow Democrats and international allies to encourage Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid its ongoing conflict.

The U.S., as Israel’s primary ally and arms supplier, has reportedly provided Israel with over 10,000 large bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles since the conflict in Gaza began in October.

The conflict was ignited on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of around 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, Israeli military operations have devastated large areas of Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents, leading to severe shortages of food and medical care, and contributing to over 41,000 fatalities, as reported by Palestinian health authorities.