Kamala Harris shuts down Gaza protesters amid reports of 'openness' to Israel arms embargo talks

US Vice President Kamala Harris has shut down chants by Gaza protesters at a campaign rally on Wednesday, suggesting that the activists would prefer Republican rival Donald Trump win the November presidential election.

Protesters chanted "Kamala, Kamala, Kamala you can’t hide, we won’t vote for genocide" as the Democratic presidential nominee gave a speech at an air hangar in Detroit.

Harris's supporters responded with jeers and chants of "Kamala" before the speech continued.

"I'm here because we believe in democracy. Everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now," Harris said, drawing applause from the rally.

"You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win then say that. Otherwise I’m speaking," she added.

The scenes bore a striking similarity to those seen during President Joe Biden's now aborted re-election campaign, when Gaza protesters were drowned out by chants of "four more years" by Democratic Party supporters.

Harris, who officially became the party's nominee this week, has yet to set a distinct course on how she would handle Israel's war on Gaza, having given her first campaign rally on Wednesday.

Prior to Wednesday's rally in Detroit — the city home to America's largest Arab population — Harris met with two Arab-American leaders of the Uncommitted movement, who said that the vice president had expressed openness to discussing an arms embargo on Israel. 

According to a New York Times report, uncommitted leaders Abbas Alawieh and Layla Elabed "wanted to support her but... wanted her to consider an arms embargo". The report added that Harris was "open to it". The New Arab could not verify the claims made in the newspaper.

A statement later released by the Harris campaign has sent mixed messages, with some outlets interpreting it as a rejection of suggestions that the vice president is open to talks on an Israel arms embargo.

"Since October 7, the vice president has prioritized engaging with Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian community members and others regarding the war in Gaza," a statement from the campaign on Thursday said.

"In this brief engagement, she reaffirmed that her campaign will continue to engage with those communities."

However, the statement underscored the vice president's commitment to Israel's 'self defence' — an undertaking that has for decades taken the form of US military and financial support for Israel.

"The vice president has been clear: she will always work to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. The Vice President is focused on securing the ceasefire and hostage deal currently on the table.

"As she has said, it is time for this war to end in a way where: Israel is secure, hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination."

Divisions over Israel's war on Gaza have dogged the Democratic party in the runup to the November election, several key figures like Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer  being openly critical of the Israeli government.

Harris has maintained that Washington will continue to support Israel, however, appears to have gone further than Biden in expressing concern for Gaza's civilian casualties, without attributing blame directly on Israel.

"I've said it many times but it bears repeating, Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it does so matters," Harris said after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July.

"What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating," she said. "The images of dead children and desperate hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time. We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent."

On Thursday, Harris' national security advisor took to X to clarify that the Democratic nominee does not support withholding arms exports to Israel.

"@VP [Kamala Harris] has been clear: she will always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups," Phil Gordon said.

"She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law."