Kamala Harris, signaling a significant shift in US policy on Gaza, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that she would not stay silent on the suffering in the Palestinian enclave and urged him to pursue a peace deal.
After meeting with Netanyahu, Harris emphasized the need to end the devastating war, diverging from outgoing President Joe Biden’s approach of applying behind-the-scenes pressure on Israel.
“The past nine months in Gaza have been heartbreaking,” Harris said, highlighting the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people seeking safety, many displaced multiple times.
“We cannot ignore these tragedies.
We cannot become numb to the suffering, and I will not remain silent.”
Harris, who is now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee following Biden’s announcement that he will not run in the November election, had a candid discussion with Netanyahu about the dire situation.
She expressed her serious concern about the human suffering in Gaza, including the deaths of many innocent civilians.
Biden also met with Netanyahu in the Oval Office, urging him to quickly finalize a Gaza ceasefire deal and secure the release of hostages.
He stressed the importance of reaching a durable end to the war in Gaza.
Harris called for the establishment of a Palestinian state and, like Biden, urged both Netanyahu and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and a hostage release deal to end the conflict ignited by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
“It’s time to get this deal done,” she said.
Harris’s strong stance contrasts with the amicable interactions between Biden and Netanyahu earlier, despite underlying tensions and questions about the US president’s influence.
Netanyahu thanked Biden for his long-standing support of Israel, acknowledging their 50-year public service careers.
Harris has previously been more vocal on Gaza than Biden, leading to speculation about her potentially tougher approach toward Israel.
However, officials denied any significant policy differences between her and Biden.
The White House meetings followed Netanyahu’s fiery speech to the US Congress, where he promised “total victory” against Hamas.
Biden and Netanyahu also met with families of US hostages held in Gaza, who expressed hope for a new ceasefire proposal in the coming days.
Protesters chanted outside the White House, echoing the rowdy protests during Netanyahu’s speech to lawmakers.
Although Biden has continued military aid to Israel since the October 7 attacks, his relationship with Netanyahu has been strained due to Israel’s actions during the war and suspicions of stalling on a deal.
The October 7 Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people in Israel, mostly civilians.
Of the 251 people taken hostage that day, 111 remain held in Gaza, including 39 believed to be dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 39,175 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.