Vice President Harris said she told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that it was time to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, and described her one-on-one meeting with him as “frank and constructive.”
Harris, a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, sought to equalize her support for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself with her “grave concern” about the extent of suffering of Palestinian civilians in its more than nine-month-old war with Hamas.
“I will always guarantee that Israel will be able to defend itself against Iran and Iranian-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah,” she said in remarks after meetings with Israeli leaders.
“I’ve said it many times but it bears repeating: Israel has the right to defend itself, but how it does so matters,” she continued, saying she had informed Netanyahu of “the enormity of people’s suffering in Gaza, including the deaths of too many innocent civilians.”
Harris’ remarks, delivered at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, signaled how she will differentiate herself from President Biden on foreign policy as she faces off against former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee.
The White House says there is no difference between Harris and Biden in the messages they delivered to Netanyahu, but among those who criticize the president for not holding Netanyahu accountable, Vice President Harris stands out as someone who is sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians.
“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months has been horrific,” Harris said. “Images of dead children, images of hungry and desperate people fleeing for safety, sometimes forced to flee a second, third or fourth time. We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent.”
Still, the vice president denounced Hamas as a brutal terrorist organization that sparked the war with its October 7 attack on Israel.
“Hamas has massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and taken 250 hostages. American citizens remain captive in Gaza,” Harris said, reading out the names of eight men and women – dead and alive – who remain held captive by Hamas.
Harris said there was “encouraging movement” in talks to secure a ceasefire agreement first floated by Biden in late May.
“So to all those who have been calling for a ceasefire, to all those who long for peace, I see you, I hear you,” Harris said.
“Let’s get a deal done, so there’s a ceasefire and an end to the war. Let’s bring the hostages home. And let’s provide the Palestinian people with much-needed relief. And ultimately, I am committed to working down a path that leads to a two-state solution.”
