On Thursday, US Vice President Kamala Harris urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to facilitate a Gaza ceasefire that would alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians, taking a firmer stance than President Joe Biden.
“It is time for this war to end,” Harris declared in a televised statement following her face-to-face talks with Netanyahu.
Harris, now the leading Democratic presidential candidate after Biden withdrew from the election race, did not mince words about the severe humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza after nine months of conflict between Israel and Hamas militants.
“We cannot allow ourselves to be numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent,” she asserted.
Harris’ comments were sharp and serious, raising questions about whether she might adopt a more assertive approach towards Netanyahu if elected president on November 5. However, analysts predict no significant shift in US policy towards Israel, a key ally in the Middle East.
The conflict erupted on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel from Gaza, resulting in 1,200 deaths and over 250 captives, according to Israeli reports.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza have claimed over 39,000 lives and caused a humanitarian disaster, with much of the enclave destroyed, widespread displacement, famine, and a shortage of emergency aid.
Biden also met with Netanyahu but refrained from making substantive remarks. Aides indicated he pressed for a ceasefire during his first direct talks with the Israeli leader since his visit to Tel Aviv shortly after the conflict began.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Harris’ Republican rival, Donald Trump, on Friday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
A ceasefire has been under negotiation for months, with US officials believing the parties are closer than ever to an agreement for a six-week truce in exchange for Hamas releasing women, the sick, elderly, and wounded hostages.
“There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal, and as I just told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done,” Harris stated.
While Harris has largely echoed Biden in supporting Israel’s right to self-defense, she made it clear on Thursday that she was losing patience with Israel’s military strategy.
“Israel has a right to defend itself. And how it does so matters,” she emphasized.
In March, she candidly criticized Israel for not doing enough to mitigate a “humanitarian catastrophe” during its ground offensive in Gaza. She also did not rule out potential “consequences” for Israel if it launched a full-scale invasion of the densely populated Rafah in southern Gaza.
A Divided Party
The Gaza conflict has created divisions within the Democratic Party, leading to months of protests at Biden events. A decrease in support among Arab Americans could jeopardize Democratic prospects in Michigan, a pivotal state in the upcoming election.
Acknowledging these concerns, Harris called on Americans to help “encourage efforts to understand the complexity, the nuance, and the history of the region.”
“To everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you,” she said. “Let’s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war.”
In an Oval Office address on Wednesday, Biden cited the need for unity within the Democratic Party as a primary reason for his decision not to seek re-election and to support Harris in the 2024 race.
Harris maintains closer ties with Democratic progressives, some of whom have urged Biden to condition US weapons shipments to Israel on addressing concerns about high Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza. The US is a major arms supplier to Israel and has shielded the country from critical United Nations votes.
Biden and Netanyahu met with families of Americans held by Hamas, who expressed hope for a ceasefire that includes the release of hostages. “We came today with a sense of urgency,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son is a captive.
The strong resolve of Kamala Harris comes as a breath of fresh air given the lack of decisive actions from Biden administration. This is her chance to prove to voters her fitness to be the Presidentian namenee for the Democratic party.
