Vice president Kamala Harris “Israel has the right to defend itself … and how it is exercised matters,” Harris said after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Thursday.
“It is time for this war to end and end in a way that Israel is safe, all hostages are released, the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity and self-determination,” Harris said.
Since Harris launched her campaign on Sunday, the Democratic presidential nominee has been under pressure to clarify her stance on Israel’s war with Hamas in Gazacurrently in its tenth month.
Harris said her conversation with Netanyahu was “frank” and she urged him to move forward with a multi-phase plan to de-escalate fighting in densely populated Gaza, release hostages and allow Palestinians in Gaza to resume their daily lives.
“There has been hopeful movement and negotiations to secure an agreement on this deal,” she said. “And as I just said to Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done.”
“So to all of you who have called for a ceasefire. And to all of you who want peace. I see you and I hear you….Let us bring the hostages home. And let us provide much-needed relief to the Palestinian people.”
The meeting comes as Netanyahu and an Israeli delegation make a divisive visit to Washington.
While Netanyahu spoke at a joint session of Congress On Wednesday, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to protest his visit and U.S. support for Israel. Protesters vandalized statues and burned U.S. flags, replacing them with Palestinian flags.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, in Washington, DC, U.S., July 25, 2024.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
“I condemn any individual who associates with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to destroy the State of Israel and kill Jews,” Harris said in a statement about the protests earlier on Thursday. “Graffiti and rhetoric supporting Hamas is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our country.”
“Let us stand together in condemning terrorism and violence,” Harris said after meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday. “Let us stand together in condemning all forms of terrorism, Islamophobia, and hatred in all its forms. And let us stand together in condemning all forms of terrorism, Islamophobia, and hatred in all its forms. And let us stand together in condemning all forms of terrorism, all of which are directed against us.”
Biden and Netanyahu held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office earlier in the day, after which the two heads of state met with the families of the American hostages.
“We probably feel more optimistic than we did during the first wave of hostage releases in late November, early December, when more than 100 Israeli hostages were released,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui is currently being held hostage in Gaza.
“We have an absolute commitment from the Biden administration and Prime Minister Netanyahu that they understand the urgency of the moment, not to waste time and to get this deal done as it stands.”
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, Number of Palestinians reported killed Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, more than 39,000 people have been killed. In addition to the reported deaths, some 90,000 Palestinians have been reported injured.
Some 1,800 people were killed in Hamas’ brutal surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to an Israeli military offensive.
“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” Harris said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies. We cannot become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent.”
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
