Ella Emhoff, the 24-year-old stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris, has publicly supported a fundraising campaign for Gaza’s children. The campaign, known as “Urgent Relief for Gaza’s Children,” was featured on Emhoff’s personal Instagram account. This initiative has garnered over $7.8 million in donations and is operated by the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, a non-profit organization based in Kent, Ohio, which received more than $21 million in donations in 2021.
Notably, the fundraiser does not make reference to the Israeli children who lost their lives during the conflict on October 7, in which 1,400 innocent Israelis were killed by Hamas terrorists. This has raised concerns and prompted reactions from various individuals, including Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), who expressed dismay and described it as “disturbing to the maximum degree.” Van Drew, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, voiced concerns that humanitarian funds could potentially be diverted by Hamas.
Ella Emhoff, whose father, First Gentleman Doug Emhoff, is Jewish, has previously stated that she does not consider herself Jewish. A representative for her clarified this stance in 2021, explaining that she did not grow up with the faith and has no qualms with it but prefers not to speak on behalf of Judaism. Despite her personal beliefs, Emhoff’s support for the fundraising effort is raising eyebrows due to her prominent position and the nature of the cause.
NEW: Vice President Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter Ella Emhoff is helping raise money for a Gaza fundraiser that could end up in the hands of Hamas.
Not surprising considering her step-mom is one of the most incompetent people in Washington DC.
Emhoff has helped raise a whopping… pic.twitter.com/st26YIvePa
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 4, 2023
The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, responsible for the fundraiser, focuses on providing aid to children in Gaza, an area that has experienced significant humanitarian challenges due to conflict and political tensions. The campaign’s success in raising funds has been substantial, but concerns persist regarding the allocation of these donations within the region.
Last month, President Joe Biden announced that the United States would send $100 million in “humanitarian assistance” to the Palestinians, a decision that received swift backlash from Republicans eyeing the 2024 presidential contest, including former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. The issue of providing assistance to the Palestinian territories remains a topic of political debate and contention.
Representatives for Ella Emhoff did not respond to requests for comment from The New York Post regarding her support for the fundraising campaign.
