Pro-Palestinian groups aim to shift Democratic party platform at DNC this week

As the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago this week, pro-Palestinian groups are preparing to make their voices heard. 

In addition to groups planning protests outside the convention, 30 DNC delegates from the "Uncommitted" movement will call for an arms embargo against Israel and an end to the war in Gaza.

The Uncommitted group draws its name from its refusal to commit to endorsing Harris in her campaign unless she declares her support for an arms embargo on Israel. Its members previously met with Harris to persuade her to support an arms embargo against Israel.

While Uncommitted is not calling for protests, it is using its delegates to push for speaking opportunities at the convention and to pressure Harris to make a statement about U.S.-supplied weapons to Israel. 

Another group, “Delegates Against Genocide,” is also committed to demonstrating their support for an arms embargo against the Jewish state during the convention by displaying Palestinian flags, wearing keffiyehs, and engaging with delegates on the convention floor. 

Pro-Palestinian delegates have stated they want to play a more significant role in determining the party’s platform and that they hope to take advantage of the large Palestinian population of Chicago during the convention to make their opinions known. 

Liano Sharon, a business consultant and delegate pushing for an alternate platform, said the delegates are “going to make our voices heard.” 

Many Palestinian Democrats are upset that the party’s official platform while calling for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire,” as well as the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, does not mention the Palestinian death toll. 

The Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry recently claimed that the death toll in Gaza reached almost 41,000 since the start of the war on Oct. 7, however, these figures cannot be verified independently and the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and Hamas terror members.

The ministry also considers every Palestinian who dies in Gaza, whether killed by Israeli strikes or by Hamas’ own actions in fighting Israel, to be the fault of Israel. 

On Sunday night, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through downtown Chicago ahead of the opening ceremonies at the DNC. 

According to CBS news, the pro-Palestinian protesters joined another march initiated by a coalition of feminist and LGBT organizations called "Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws." However, as more pro-Palestinian supporters joined the march, it eventually became focused on the Palestinian cause. 

On Sunday night, at least pro-Palestinian protester caused a disruption at the DNC delegate party at Navy Pier in Chicago, shouting: “The Harris administration keeps funding Israel.”  

Last week, the U.S. State Department announced the approval of $20 billion in future arms sales to Israel to assist Israel in preparing for an anticipated attack by Iran and its terror proxies. 

Harris has, so far, resisted calls for an arms embargo.