Top Democratic officials concluded that Kamala Harris lost significant support in the 2024 election due to the Biden administration’s approach to the Israel-Gaza conflict, according to Axios. The findings come from the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) still-secret post-election analysis, which has remained confidential since last year.

Internal DNC Report Highlights Gaza as a Factor in Loss

The report, which has not been publicly released, indicates that the Biden-Harris administration’s stance on Israel’s military actions in Gaza cost Harris key voters, particularly among younger and progressive demographics. The findings were confirmed by officials who spoke with Axios, revealing that the DNC held a closed-door meeting with a pro-Palestinian group to discuss the impact of U.S. policy in the region.

Activists from the IMEU Policy Project, a pro-Palestinian organization, told the DNC that the administration’s support for Israel was a factor in the party’s losses. Hamid Bendaas, a spokesperson for the group, said the DNC shared that their data showed the Israel-Gaza policy was a ‘net-negative’ in the 2024 election.

During the meeting, the DNC reportedly acknowledged that its internal research found the administration’s position on Israel hurt its electoral prospects. Two other senior aides at the pro-Palestinian organization also confirmed that the DNC had reached this conclusion.

Contradictory Logic on Harris’s Position

This reasoning seems contradictory, given that Harris was running against Donald Trump, the most pro-Israel president in American history. Analysts have questioned whether many progressive voters stayed home because Harris was not sufficiently pro-Hamas, a stance that would likely be unpopular with the broader electorate.

Harris had previously written in her book that President Biden’s unpopularity, which she argued was partly due to his perceived unconditional support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hurt her in the 2024 election. She claimed she had privately urged Biden to show more empathy for civilians in Gaza but did not publicly criticize him over Israel during her campaign.

Biden’s unpopularity, however, was attributed to a range of factors, including his perceived cognitive decline and the failure of key policies, such as the sharp rise in the cost of living. The idea that Biden’s unpopularity was significantly due to his insufficient sympathy for Hamas and its October 7 attacks is widely regarded as implausible.

Shift in Democratic Strategy on Israel

Despite this, the internal DNC analysis suggests a potential shift in Democratic strategy on Israel. The findings indicate that the party may move toward a more critical stance on U.S. support for Israel in the future, aligning more closely with groups like Hamas and other anti-Israel organizations.

Political analysts argue that this shift could have significant implications for U.S. foreign policy and its relationship with Israel. The internal report may influence future Democratic campaign messaging, particularly in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

According to the report, the DNC’s findings were based on internal polling and voter surveys that highlighted dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The report is expected to be reviewed by senior Democratic leaders in the coming months, potentially shaping the party’s approach to Middle East policy.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the internal DNC analysis may serve as a blueprint for how the party handles the delicate balance between supporting Israel and maintaining the trust of its progressive base.