Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Harris’s nomination speech draws fire from pro-Palestinian activists

Criticism emerges over VP’s stance on Israel-Gaza conflict, reflecting party tensions

Harris’s nomination speech draws fire from pro-Palestinian activists

KAMALA HARRIS formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago on Thursday (22), promising a "new way forward" and a message of unity.

Despite the celebration, her speech left pro-Palestinian activists disappointed, as they felt she didn’t depart from existing US policies on the Israel-Gaza conflict, exposing a deepening divide within the party.


The discontent among pro-Palestinian activists stems from Harris’s focus on reiterating support for Israel's right to defend itself, with only a brief mention of Palestinian self-determination and a call for a ceasefire.

This approach has failed to resonate with many progressive delegates and voters, particularly in key battleground states with large Muslim and Arab American communities, who expected a stronger stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The 59-year-old sought to strike a presidential tone as she delivered a message of unity and patriotism for Americans after one of the most extraordinary turnarounds in US political history.

"With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past – a chance to chart a new way forward," Harris said to huge cheers from tens of thousands of pumped-up supporters.

"And I want you to know: I promise to be a president for all Americans."

The convention became a giant party to celebrate Harris's astonishing ascent from something of a political afterthought to Democratic standard bearer upon president Joe Biden's surprise decision to end his reelection bid.

A sea of waving flags and chants of "USA" filled the arena as jubilant Democrats anointed Harris.

She was later joined on stage by her running mate Tim Walz and their families, as they held their arms aloft while 100,000 red, white and blue balloons tumbled from the ceiling.

Country act The Chicks sang a version of The Star-Spangled Banner while pop star Pink also performed as the Democrats rolled out a list of celebrity backers.

Kamala Harris celebrates with her family onstage after accepting the party's nomination (Photo: Kent Nishimura/Pool/Getty Images)

'Trump will pull our country back to the past'

But it was Harris's time to shine on the biggest night of her political life, after becoming the first Black woman to be nominated by a major US party.

She reached out to voters across America's bitter political divide, promising to bring economic opportunity and protect their personal freedoms on key issues like abortion.

"I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations," she vowed.

Harris then launched a broadside at 78-year-old Trump, whose campaign has been upended by having to face a woman two decades younger, rather than the increasingly frail Biden, 81.

"We know what a second Trump term would look like," she said, saying he wanted to "pull our country back to the past."

She laid out her personal story as a child of a single working mother, and her career as a prosecutor, saying she has the background and experience to serve the country in contrast to Trump who she said only works for himself and "his billionaire friends."

Disappointed Pro-Palestinian activists say Harris failed to break from status quo

Turning to foreign policy, she accused Trump of trying to "cozy up" to foreign autocrats like Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Harris pledged instead to "stand strong" with Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion and support NATO allies – again all in stark contrast to Trump's isolationist stance.

On the hugely divisive issue of Israel's war in Gaza, Harris went further than the rhetoric of her boss Biden by calling the scale of suffering in the Palestinian enclave "heartbreaking".

She vowed to get a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and cheers erupted when she vowed "self-determination" for the Palestinian people.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have demonstrated throughout the Democratic convention, with several thousands rallying outside it again on Thursday.

Disappointed Pro-Palestinian activists said Kamala Harris' speech failed to demonstrate any break from the status quo, after a week in which the most divisive issue facing the party was mostly ignored.

Under pressure to respond to critics of US support for Israel's war in Gaza, the vice-president used her speech to repeat earlier calls for a ceasefire and a hostages deal. She said she supported Israel's right to defend itself while also favoring the Palestinian right to self-determination.

Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement that mobilised more than 750,000 voters to protest US policy on Israel, said Harris missed an opportunity to win over those people, many of whom live in battleground states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona.

"What's needed in this moment is courageous leadership that breaks from the current approach," Alawieh told Reuters shortly after Harris formally accepted the party's nomination.

Uncommitted delegates and their allies had pushed unsuccessfully for a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to address the latest bloodshed in the decades old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's assault on Hamas-governed Gaza, with the aid of US support, has since killed 40,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, along with displacing nearly its entire 2.3 million population, causing a hunger crisis and flattening almost the entire enclave.

Rima Mohammad, an uncommitted delegate from Michigan, said the speech added to disappointment over the DNC's refusal to let a Palestinian speak, and offered nothing to assuage the concerns of her progressive, diverse community in Ann Arbor.

"I'm actually more concerned now," Mohammad said. "This is just a bad look. You're going to lose Michigan."

A campaign spokesperson declined to explain the decision not to schedule a speech by a Palestinian speaker at the DNC. The decision was made by DNC organisers in close consultation with the Harris campaign, sources familiar with the discussions said.

Party insiders fear the Gaza war could cost Harris needed votes in battleground states such as Michigan, which is home to large Muslim and Arab American populations and college campuses that have been the site of Gaza protests.

Demonstrators protest outside of the DNC on Thursday (22) (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

'No ceasefire no vote'

The convention was held in Chicago, home to the United States' largest Palestinian community, according to the Arab American Institute.

The DNC faced pro-Palestinian protests each day in Chicago, including thousands of demonstrators on Thursday night ahead of Harris' speech. Dozens of arrests were made during the week.

Protesters carried banners that read "No Embargo No Vote" and "No Ceasefire No Vote," while thousands chanted "ceasefire now," and "long live Palestine."

"Leading with Israel's right to defend itself in the wake of 40,000 massacred Palestinians is absolutely tone deaf," said Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC and National Chair of the US Palestinian Community Network, who said Harris simply repeated President Joe Biden's positions.

"Harris said nothing new," he said. "We continue to demand that the U.S. and Harris implement an arms embargo and stop sending weapons and all other aid to Israel."

Mohammad, Alawieh and other Uncommitted delegates spent the previous night on the sidewalk outside the convention to protest the DNC's rejection of their request for a Palestinian speaker.

They welcomed a call for a ceasefire and the return of hostages by the parents of one US hostage held in Gaza – Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin – on Wednesday (21) night, but said they should also have been given a chance to speak.

Pro-Palestinian protesters and delegates said they were heartened by messages of solidarity from the United Auto Workers union and the Movement for Black Lives, a network of over 150 leaders and organizations. Muslim Women for Harris-Walz said on X it would cease operations after the DNC decision.

Ruwa Romman, a Georgia state legislator and delegate who spent the night outside the DNC, said Uncommitted organisers had negotiated with the Harris campaign for weeks and provided a list of possible speakers, only to be rejected.

Prior to Harris' remarks, only a handful of speakers even addressed the war, including Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders and Raphael Warnock, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

One major Harris campaign donor, who requested anonymity to be candid about their private conversations with the campaign, said they worried that without a near-term ceasefire deal and clear statements from Harris about ending the war and protecting civilians, campus protests could flare again when universities resume classes in coming days.

"We need every vote," the donor said.

Nail-biting sprint to November

Meanwhile, Democrats have been riding a wave of energy and enthusiasm since Harris stepped up. She has wiped out former president Trump's lead in the polls, drawn enormous crowds and raised record funds.

The torch having well and truly been passed, Biden gave a farewell speech on the first day of the convention and said he had called Harris to wish her luck.

"I am proud to watch my partner Kamala Harris accept our nomination for president. She will be an outstanding president because she is fighting for our future," Biden, who is on holiday in California, said on X.

Barack Obama, who along with his wife Michelle delivered rousing support for Harris at the convention on Tuesday (20), said Harris had "showed the world what I have known to be true. She is ready on day one to be President and represents the best of America. Let's get to work."

Yet Democrats will also be trying to temper their hopes.

Harris told reporters after her speech that the Democrats were the "underdogs" in the election, with a nail-biting sprint to November against a combative opponent.

As he struggles to recalibrate his own campaign, Trump is increasingly resorting to personal insults, racially charged attacks, and dark rhetoric.

He gave a play-by-play commentary on Harris's speech on his Truth social platform, accusing her of making the United States a "failing nation" while part of the Biden administration.

"She's done nothing for three and a half years but talk, and that's what she's doing tonight, she's complaining about everything but doing nothing!" he wrote.

(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

More For You

Dhanush & young son Linga
Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch

Highlights:

  • Actor-director Dhanush performed live with composer GV Prakash at Chennai event.
  • Youngest son Linga joined his father on stage, dancing alongside him.
  • Dhanush recounted childhood memories that inspired the story of Idli Kadai.
  • The film, featuring a star-studded cast, is set to release on 1 October.

Dhanush delighted fans at the Idli Kadai audio launch in Chennai with a touching father-son moment, performing the film’s hit song Enjami Thandhaane alongside music composer GV Prakash. The actor’s youngest son, Linga, joined him on stage, creating a heartfelt moment that resonated with audiences. Dhanush also shared personal childhood memories, revealing how his love for idlis inspired the upcoming film.

Dhanush & young son Linga Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less
AI art

Two leading AI tools shaping digital art

Seedream 4.0 / Nano Banana

Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana fuel AI art craze themed around Bollywood

Highlights

  • Two leading AI tools shaping digital art, Seedream 4.0 and Google’s Gemini Nano Banana
  • Seedream 4.0 generates high-resolution imaginative visuals in multiple styles
  • Nano Banana transforms selfies into retro Bollywood-inspired portraits
  • Viral on Instagram, TikTok, and X, with global audiences engaging
  • Experts highlight data privacy, authenticity, and ethical concerns

AI-powered creativity is sweeping social media, with Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana AI capturing the imagination of users worldwide. Seedream 4.0 is designed for digital artists and hobbyists who want to create detailed, high-quality visuals in a wide range of styles, from realistic landscapes to abstract scenes. Nano Banana, on the other hand, allows users to turn selfies into 1990s Bollywood-inspired portraits, often featuring traditional South Asian attire and nostalgic retro backdrops.

A global viral phenomenon


Both tools have seen rapid adoption in 2025. Seedream 4.0 attracts those seeking versatile, high-resolution creative outputs. Nano Banana has gone viral for its playful, culturally resonant edits. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X are flooded with creations from influencers, celebrities, and everyday users, showing the broad appeal of AI-driven art.

Keep ReadingShow less
James Bourne quits McFly tour

James Bourne confirms his exit from the McFly and Busted joint tour hours before opening night

Getty Images/Instagram/busted

James Bourne quits McFly tour just hours before launch sparking shock over mystery health battle

Highlights:

  • James Bourne announces exit from the joint tour just hours before its launch
  • The Busted star says he is not well enough to perform
  • McFly and Busted will continue the tour as planned without him
  • Fellow bandmates and fans send messages of support and encouragement

In an unexpected turn, James Bourne has pulled out of the much-anticipated McFly tour, just hours before the opening show in Birmingham. The Busted star shared that ongoing health issues have forced him to withdraw from the joint run, which was due to see both bands performing their greatest hits on the same stage. His decision comes as a major blow to fans who had been awaiting this collaboration.

James Bourne quits McFly tour James Bourne confirms his exit from the McFly and Busted joint tour hours before opening night Getty Images/Instagram/busted

Keep ReadingShow less
Street Fighter

Street Fighter is now in production

Vidyut Jammwal steps into 'Street Fighter' arena as Dhalsim to face Hollywood heavyweights in brutal 1993 tournament

Highlights:

  • The live-action Street Fighter film will release in October 2026 via Paramount Pictures
  • Indian star Vidyut Jammwal plays Dhalsim in the multicultural ensemble cast
  • The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai and shot for IMAX
  • Set in 1993, the story follows Ryu and Ken returning for a high-stakes World Warrior Tournament

The upcoming Street Fighter movie is gearing up for a worldwide release in October 2026 under Paramount Pictures, and the buzz around Vidyut Jammwal in Street Fighter is already hyping fans. Bringing together a diverse international line-up, this live-action adaptation aims to reintroduce the beloved gaming saga to a new generation while tapping into the nostalgia of its 1990s arcade roots.

Street Fighter Street Fighter is now in production Instagram/streetfightermovie

Keep ReadingShow less