Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in Michigan Oct. 18. Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Alana Zeitchik October 30, 2024

Six members of my family were brutally kidnapped by Hamas and taken hostage to Gaza last autumn. Now, the same air of uncertainty that has consumed me every day since Oct. 7 has been amplified by the added tension of our U.S. election.

Five of my family members were freed from captivity during the one and only ceasefire deal last November, but we still have loved ones who remain tortured in the tunnels under Gaza. For the families of the close to 100 hostages still held captive in Gaza — about half of whom are now presumed dead — our last shred of hope depends on the election of an American president who can successfully pressure both Israel and Hamas to make a deal that brings the hostages home and ends the enormous suffering caused by this war.

I believe only one candidate has the chops to do that: Vice President Kamala Harris.

The unease of the week before an election always feels like purgatory. But for Israeli hostage families like mine, and for the Palestinians who are enduring profound suffering after more than a year of war, the consequences of this election are genuinely those of life and death. I have been reluctant to overly politicize my family’s tragedy, but with a choice so stark — between one candidate who clearly understands the nuances of the political and military challenges we are facing, and one who appears to have no plan at all — to do so feels like an obligation.

The fact of the matter is that the fates of the hostages and the people of Gaza are intertwined. As the Jewish vote has been painfully split over issues of support for Israel and escalating domestic antisemitism, I believe there is only one candidate who will be able to lead us forward. This moment is an opportunity to break us free from purgatory, both here in the United States and in Israel and Palestine.

I will be voting for Harris for three reasons.

First, I have seen her expertly navigate the fine line of diplomacy when it comes to the Israel-Hamas war, and am encouraged by her commitment and skill. In her remarks on the issue she has been unwavering in her support of a deal to release the hostages and end the war, holding both Hamas and the Israeli government accountable, a balancing act requiring a delicate approach that only an adept and compassionate public servant can pull off.

President Joe Biden’s administration, with Harris’ support, has been tireless in its efforts to secure a deal that would ensure the release of the remaining hostages — one that would involve an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza without allowing Hamas to come back to power — and I trust Harris to see it through.

Trump, on the other hand, can barely put a sentence together. Despite his bluster and bravado, he is not the “dealmaker” he claimed to once be, especially on the international stage. Throughout his campaign, he has expressed no plan at all for how to get the hostages released, and has only made empty threats that their captors will “pay” if they are not returned. His vengeful position will not lead us toward diplomacy, but rather inspire more military action, which is not the answer.

In August, six hostages whom Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was using as human shields, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were executed as the IDF was closing in. We know now that when the IDF gets too close, the hostages’ captors will readily kill them rather than let them be recovered alive.

There is no military solution that guarantees we will be able to bring the remaining living hostages home safely. Trump’s blank check support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will only endanger them, and further destabilize the region.

Second, Harris is the only candidate who is committed both to supporting Israel’s absolute right to defend itself and foundationally improving the lives of the Palestinian people, a needed step to bring stability to the region.

During her time as vice president, the American military has twice organized regional allies to help Israel successfully defend against missile attacks from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Biden administration has taken extraordinary steps to provide Israel with expanded military aid, and shared critical intelligence that helped remove terrorists from the battlefield.

But Harris also recognizes that the status quo in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict predating Oct. 7 was not sustainable or safe for either side, and she has been active in helping with the diplomatic efforts for the “day-after” plan for Gaza after the war. Those plans include coordinating support from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to prevent Hamas from returning to power, and to put the Palestinian people on a path to self-determination.

Trump, on the other hand, is as likely to abandon diplomatic efforts based on what he deems personally advantageous that day — or based on who did a better job flattering him. Additionally, his disregard for Palestinians and lack of support for a future autonomous Palestinian state is in opposition to what Arab nations will demand in order to join the U.S. in a regional effort to stabilize the region for the long term. His erratic behavior and weak approach to a two-state solution will never put the region on the path to enduring stability, security and freedom that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.

And third, I am supporting Harris because I believe in what she stands for here at home. I am one of the vast majority of Americans who are exhausted and exasperated by the polarizing, hateful state of politics in our country. We need a leader who can build coalitions to make the progress and change we all long for. Harris is the only candidate making real, successful efforts to bring both parties together, to communicate with people who don’t always agree with her on every issue but share values. She plans to have at least one Republican in her cabinet; she is campaigning with Republicans who are putting country over party; and she will continue to try to heal our country and work across the aisle if she is elected president.

Trump is not the sole cause of our divisiveness. But he fans its flames and uses inciting rhetoric to his benefit, while we all have to suffer the repercussions. Before him, we could disagree with one another on politics without entering a screaming match, or losing friends and family, or worse.

My endorsement is not just political; it’s personal. I respect those who are still deciding who to vote for, or even whether to vote at all. But as someone with an extremely personal stake in how the outcome of this election affects Israel and the many innocent victims of this brutal conflict, I would argue that there is a clear choice for anyone who feels similarly.

In this election, the candidate who is better equipped to bring my family home is also the candidate who is better for ending the war in Gaza, and that’s Kamala Harris. The candidate who is better for enduring Israeli security is also better for putting the Palestinians on a path to self-determination, and that’s Kamala Harris. And above all, the candidate who is better for every American is Kamala Harris.

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