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Unlike other Democratic politicians who talked about the need to end the war, including US President Joe Biden who spoke on Monday, Obama chose to make vague comments about human rights and global peace, while making substantive remarks on several domestic policy issues such as affordable housing, reproductive rights, and immigration.

Throughout the conflict, the US has fast-tracked weapons and armaments to Israel's military and provided a diplomatic shield for Israel at the United Nations, where Washington blocked several early attempts to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire.

The US also provides Israel with $3.8bn in military aid each year.

Democratic officials have said that the convention will open on Monday with the theme, "For the people." Tuesday will be dedicated to "a bold vision for America's future," and Wednesday to "a fight for our freedoms."

Thursday, when Harris takes the stage, will be themed: "For our future."

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Joe Biden's claims about Gaza are absurd

The record shows that during his career as a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2018, Walz consistently voted in favor of pro-Israeli positions. In these years he supported every Israeli war on Gaza, rejected the international consensus on the illegality of settlements in the West Bank, and opposed any unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, preferring instead to pay lip service to a “negotiated peace” while Israel continued colonizing the West Bank unimpeded.

On January 9, 2009, Walz voted Yea on blatantly biased H. Res. 34, which essentially endorsed the pro-Israeli position on “Operation Cast Lead”

In June 2009, Walz visited Israel and the occupied West Bank on a Middle East tour, where he met with Benjamin Netanyahu (among other heads of state), and “told the Israelis he believes the growing number of Jewish settlements in the West Bank were hampering the prospects for peace”.

However, in March 2010, when tension between the Obama administration and the Netanyahu government was bubbling to the surface over the construction of settlements in East Jerusalem, Walz chose to attend and speak at the annual AIPAC conference, where he stated that “Israel is our truest and closest ally in the region, with a commitment to values of personal freedoms and liberties, surrounded by a pretty tough neighborhood.”

Harris, despite being part of the Biden administration, was seen by some as being more sympathetic to the pro-Palestinian cause and made a forceful case for a cease-fire deal after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netantyahu.

“We all came to a consensus that it’s not going to make a difference, that [Harris] represents this administration,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network. “We’re going to stay full steam ahead.”

Harris may also face sporadic protests inside the arena where she will make her televised acceptance speech on Thursday. About 30 delegates who represent the “uncommitted” vote in the primary which activists used as a means of protesting Biden’s policies on Israel will attend.