Chicago As anti-Israel activists have been protesting outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) for the past four days, Vice President Kamala Harris finally addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in her speech on the convention’s final night.
“On the Gaza war, President Biden and I are working around the clock because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire agreement done,” Harris said Thursday night at the United Center in Chicago. “Let me be clear: I will always defend Israel’s right to self-defense and I will always work to ensure that Israel has the ability to defend itself, because the Israeli people should never again face the horror unleashed on October 7th by a terrorist organization called Hamas.”
At the same time, Harris referred to the innocent Palestinian victims of the war, saying “what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months has been devastating.”
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on August 22, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)
“So many innocent lives have been lost, so many times,” Harris said. “The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.”
Harris said she and President Biden are committed to ending the conflict while ensuring Israel’s security and “enabling the Palestinian people to realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”
Harris met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July, where she reiterated her administration’s support for Israel and expressed “grave concern over the dire humanitarian situation in the country.” A ceasefire agreement was also apparently discussed at the time.
Anti-Israel agitators protest Harris’ VP nomination near Democratic National Convention, handing out fliers calling for global ‘intifada’
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on August 22, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)
Speaking to Israeli reporters on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: Proposed last week The Biden administration is working with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt to “bridge the gap” between the warring parties, a move that Netanyahu has “accepted.”
“He supports that,” Blinken said. “Hamas has an obligation to do likewise.”
Blinken did not provide details about what the proposal would include, but Netanyahu has not yet formally agreed to a ceasefire.
Hamas leader Sinwar reportedly wants guarantees of survival as Gaza ceasefire talks reportedly stall
Protesters burn an American flag during the second march of protests against the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. Protesters march to the United Center, where Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to accept the Democratic presidential nomination. (Fox News Digital)
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Meanwhile, anti-Israel protesters aired their displeasure with Harris’ campaign at the Democratic National Convention this week. Demonstrators on Thursday called the Democratic candidate “Killer Kamala,” with some speaking to Fox News Digital about their stance on the presidential candidate.
Fox News Digital’s Caitlin McFaul contributed to this report.
