Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., once considered an outsider within the Democratic Party, is now being embraced by her own party. During her speech at the Democratic National Convention, she gave a strong endorsement of Kamala Harris for president, receiving enthusiastic applause and chants of her famous initials. However, her speech also touched on the issue of Gaza, claiming that Harris and the Biden administration are working to end Israel’s war in Gaza.
While pro-Palestine protesters gathered in Chicago to disrupt the DNC, Ocasio-Cortez used her platform to push the idea that Harris is actively working towards a ceasefire in Gaza. This claim was met with skepticism by some, as Vice President Harris’s responsibilities do not include U.S. foreign policy. Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, pointed out that there has been no ceasefire in Gaza despite the supposed efforts.
Ocasio-Cortez’s speech and the Democratic mainstream’s embrace of it exposed divisions within the party. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the group that played a significant role in Ocasio-Cortez’s rise, withdrew their endorsement of her over the Gaza issue. While they acknowledged her strong stance on the war, they expected a higher level of commitment to Palestinian liberation.
The disagreement between Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA raises the question of what compromises must be made to gain power and affect change. Some argue that Ocasio-Cortez and others like Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., are acting pragmatically and deserve credit for their positions on U.S.-Israel policy. However, others believe that their positions are watered down and fail to address the true extent of the crisis in Gaza.
Since Ocasio-Cortez’s speech, Democrats have co-opted and watered down the term “ceasefire” to quell outrage over the Biden administration’s role in enabling the genocide in Gaza. Human rights advocates are calling for an end to Israeli bombings and an immediate ceasefire, but some Democrats have redefined “ceasefire” to refer to a hostage exchange. The ultimate goal for the Biden administration and its allies is to secure a deal with Saudi Arabia that legitimizes Israel and oversee an Arab proxy force to run Gaza.
Human rights advocates argue that celebrating the administration’s mealy-mouthed approach to a ceasefire is not enough. They believe that immediate action is needed, including an immediate ceasefire and an arms embargo. The response to Ocasio-Cortez’s mention of Gaza at the convention reflects polling indicating that a majority of Democrats nationwide support an end to the violence. However, policymakers must move beyond rhetoric and work to leverage U.S. military and diplomatic support for Israel to compel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to protect civilians and reach a ceasefire deal.
In conclusion, Ocasio-Cortez’s speech at the DNC highlighted the divisions within the Democratic Party regarding the issue of Gaza. While she received applause for her endorsement of Kamala Harris, her claim about a Gaza ceasefire was met with skepticism. The disagreement between Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA raises questions about the compromises necessary to gain power and affect change. Human rights advocates continue to call for immediate action to end the violence in Gaza.