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Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the media following her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while affirming Israel’s right to defend itself.
She emphasized the need for a ceasefire and a resolution that ensures both Israeli security and the well-being of Palestinians, advocating for a two-state solution.
Harris criticized the binary framing of the conflict, highlighting the complexity of the situation and the suffering of civilians.
BREAKING: VP Harris speaks after meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu
Harris calling for an immediate cease-fire deal to free the hostages.
The VP saying she “will not be silent" about the suffering in Gaza, the "devastating" loss of life and the "dire" humanitarian crisis. pic.twitter.com/Fe5QPoOuFh
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“So I just had a frank and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I told him that I will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran and Iran-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah. From when I was a young girl, collecting funds to plant trees for Israel, to my time in the United States Senate, and now at the White House, I have had an unwavering commitment to the existence of the state of Israel, to its security, and to the people of Israel,” Harris said.
“I’ve said it many times, but it bears repeating. Israel has a right to defend itself — and how it does so matters. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization. On October 7th. Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1200 innocent people, including 44 Americans. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence, and took 250 hostages. There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza: Sagi Deo Hen Hirsch, Goldberg, Poland Idan, Alexander Keith Siegal Omer Neutra.”
“And the remains of American citizens, Judy Weinstein, God Haggai and Itai Hen are still being held in Gaza. I have met with the families of these American hostages multiple times now. And I’ve told them each time they are not alone and I stand with them. And President Biden and I are working every day to bring them home. I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians,” she said.
“And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there. With over 2 million people facing high levels of food insecurity, and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating. The images of dead children and desperate hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time. We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent. Thanks to the leadership of our president, Joe Biden, there is a deal on the table for a ceasefire and a hostage deal, and it is important that we recall what the deal involves,” Harris said.
“The first phase of the deal would bring about a full ceasefire, including a withdrawal of the Israeli military from population centers in Gaza. In the second phase, the Israeli military would withdraw from Gaza entirely, and it would lead to a permanent end to the hostilities. It is time for this war to end and end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity, and self determination. There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal. And as I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done.”
“So to everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire, and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you. Let’s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war. Let’s bring the hostages home. And let’s provide much needed relief to the Palestinian people. And ultimately, I remain committed to a path forward that can lead to a two-state solution. And I know right now it is hard to conceive of that prospect. But a two-state solution is the only path that ensures Israel remains a secure, Jewish, and democratic state, And one that ensures Palestinians can finally realize the freedom, security, and prosperity that they rightly deserve,” she added.
“And I will close with this, then. It is important for the American people to remember the war in Gaza is not a binary issue. However, too often the conversation is binary when the reality is anything but. So I ask my fellow Americans to help encourage efforts to acknowledge the complexity, the nuance, and the history of the region. Let us all condemn terrorism and violence. Let us all do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians. And let us condemn anti Semitism, Islamophobia, and hate of any kind. And let us work to unite our country. I thank you.”
In contrast, Netanyahu framed the conflict as a moral struggle between good and evil, asserting the necessity of a united front against terrorism.
Harris’s remarks did not include a call for the disarmament of Hamas, and she faced scrutiny for endorsing claims of famine in Gaza that were disputed by the UN.
“Our world is in upheaval. In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life,” Netanyahu said.
