El-Sayed distances himself from ad blaming high US grocery bills on Israel ‘killing Palestinians’

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's campaign distanced itself from a pro-Palestinian group's ad blaming high US grocery bills on Israel 'killing Palestinians.' The ad by Rebellion PAC, fronted by Cenk Uygur, depicts a couple complaining about grocery costs due to money for 'killing Palestinians' and suggests US aid funds Israel's healthcare. The campaign said the ad is not affiliated but did not address its content. El-Sayed has echoed similar messages.

The Senate campaign of Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a harsh critic of Israel, distanced itself from a pro-Palestinian group's new ad that critics say invokes antisemitic tropes about US support for Israel. The ad, made by Rebellion PAC fronted by left-wing commentator Cenk Uygur, depicts a couple in a supermarket saying they cannot afford groceries because they have to set money aside 'for killing Palestinians.' It also suggests the US is paying for Israel's universal healthcare system, which the article notes is false as US aid is for military purposes. The El-Sayed campaign stated the ad 'is not affiliated in any way' with the campaign and does not speak for him, but did not address how the candidate views the ad's content. El-Sayed has echoed similar messages, blaming Israel for pushing the US into the Iran war and saying US citizens pay for it 'in gas, we're paying for it in our groceries.' Tensions among Jewish voters in Michigan are high, with many uncomfortable with El-Sayed's strong criticism of Israel. The ad repurposes a 2024 ad for Uygur's presidential campaign and will run online with a $1,000 spend.