Independent presidential candidate Cornel West and his running mate, Melina Abdullah, recently defended their pro-Palestinian views in their first joint television interview. They declined to call on Hamas to release hostages taken from Israel for a ceasefire and refused to criticize Hamas for its actions in the war. Abdullah, a member of Black Lives Matter Grassroots, stood by a statement framing the attacks in Israel as a desperate act of self-defense. She emphasized the importance of understanding the root causes of uprisings, even if tactics may be disagreeable. When asked directly about condemning the attacks, Abdullah declined to provide a clear answer.
Abdullah expressed discomfort with the constant pressure to condemn Hamas, highlighting her belief that an entire state has been built on the genocide of a people. She stressed the need to address this issue first before focusing on other aspects. West supported Hamas’ actions by referring to the October 7 attacks as a counterterrorist response, emphasizing the longstanding history of violence and occupation in the region. He stated that while he does not support killing innocent individuals, the current situation warrants a response to the ongoing violence and occupation.
The independent ticket led by West actively seeks support from Muslim Americans and progressives in response to dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. West has made the situation in Gaza a central campaign issue, advocating for a permanent ceasefire and an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. Abdullah, who holds strong pro-Palestinian views, sees her religious background connecting to the themes of peace, truth, love, and justice advocated by the West campaign. The team aims to address the root causes of the conflict and promote a fair resolution.
When questioned about the proposal for Hamas to release hostages in exchange for a ceasefire, West redirected the focus on Israel to withdraw its military operations and end the occupation of Palestinian territories. He criticized the actions of the Israel Defense Forces in terrorizing Palestinians and emphasized the need for them to cease their attacks. West acknowledged that while Hamas bears some responsibility for harm to civilians, the IDF’s actions are considered more severe and described as tantamount to the crime of genocide. He asserted that the primary culprit in the conflict is the IDF’s actions that are terrorizing the Palestinian population.
The independent ticket seeks to address issues of justice, peace, and equality through their pro-Palestinian stance, emphasizing the need to address root causes of conflict before assigning blame or condemning specific groups. West and Abdullah prioritize ending the violence and occupation in the Palestinian territories while advocating for a more balanced approach to resolving the longstanding conflict. By engaging with Muslim Americans and progressives, they aim to draw attention to the human rights violations and systemic injustices faced by Palestinians. Their campaign reflects a commitment to challenging the status quo and advocating for a more equitable and just resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
