Kamala Harris, the leading candidate for the Democratic party's presidential nomination, addressed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza during their recent conversation. She described the discussion as direct and honest, emphasizing that she will not stay silent about these issues.
After reviewing the events over the past nine months in Gaza which have resulted in numerous casualties, including children and displaced individuals, Harris acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense while condemning Hamas for its aggressive actions. She later emphasized that how Israel protects itself is crucial and expressed her commitment to not ignore the suffering of Gaza’s residents.
Harris urged Netanyahu and Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement and hostage release deal, stating it would end an unfortunate conflict causing numerous innocent casualties. She also suggested that Prime Minister Netanyahu should expedite this process as she had previously discussed with him in her private meeting.
Hours earlier, during his time at the White House, Prime Minister Netanyahu engaged in a friendly conversation with Biden, thanking him for his long-standing support of Israel. Their exchange focused on resolving the ongoing conflict in Gaza and finding a lasting solution to end the hostilities as soon as possible.
Harris's stern comments came after she separately met both Netanyahu and Biden. During her conversation with Netanyahu, she brought up the displacement of Palestinians due to the war that began when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel in October. Harris also mentioned her childhood experiences planting trees for Israel while expressing her unwavering commitment to the state's existence and its people throughout her career as a senator from California, and now serving as Vice President.
According to White House officials, progress has been made between Israel and Hamas in reaching a ceasefire agreement, with ongoing efforts focusing on resolving remaining issues. Netanyahu, during his speech at Congress on Wednesday, spoke of the intense attempts to secure hostages' release while providing limited details about these endeavors.
Harris did not attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address but released a statement emphasizing that her absence should not be interpreted as opposition. Meanwhile, Netanyahu planned meetings with both Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Trump during his upcoming trip to Mar-a-Lago for further discussions on technology cooperation and potential issues related to the conflict in Gaza.
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