US Vice-President Kamala Harris has said that she "will not be silent" on the sufferings of Palestinians in Gaza and she called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to a ceasefire deal. The democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential elections told reporters that she expressed her "serious concern" about the Gaza situation while having a "frank and constructive" meeting with Netanyahu.
"What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating," Harris told reporters after her meeting with Netanyahu. "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."
Harris's statement comes as Democrats strive to handle the backlash over the Biden administration's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict not only from the public but also within the Democratic Party.
She added that while Israel had the right to defend itself, "how it does so matters. "What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating," Harris added.
She said she told Netanyahu that it was time to get this deal done. "Let’s get the deal done so we can get a cease-fire 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," Harris said. "So to everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire, and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you."
Both Netanyahu’s office and Harris too tweeted about the meeting.
Hours earlier, Biden hosted Netanyahu in the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting. A White House readout of the meeting said both discussed the ongoing efforts to negotiate a cease-fire and release the hostages.
"Biden expressed the need to close the remaining gaps, finalise the deal as soon as possible, bring the hostages home, and reach a durable end to the war in Gaza," the White House said. The statement added that he highlighted the need to safeguard civilian lives and remove any blocks to the free flow of aid into Gaza.
The US President also discussed the US's "ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis."
Netanyahu thanked Biden for his 50 years of public service and his support of Israel. He told reporters that he had known Biden for over 40 years. "Mr. President, we’ve known each other for 40 years, and you’ve known every Israeli prime minister for 50 years from Golda Meir. So from a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel," he said.
