WASHINGTON — US Vice President Kamala Harris pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (Jul 25) about the humanitarian situation in Gaza during “frank” talks that were scrutinized for hints of how she may change American policy toward Israel if elected president.
“Israel has the right to defend itself. “And how it does so is important,” Harris told reporters following the meeting. She stated that she has deep concerns about the degree of human suffering in Gaza.
“I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there,” she told me. “I will not be silent.”
Harris’ words, which were caustic and severe in tone, may represent a departure from President Joe Biden’s approach to Netanyahu.
Hours earlier, Biden called for a cease-fire in Gaza’s 9-month war in his first face-to-face talks with Netanyahu since the president traveled to Israel days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and vowed American assistance.
According to a White House readout, “President Biden expressed the need to close the remaining gaps, finalize the deal as soon as possible, bring the hostages home, and reach a durable end to the war in Gaza,” and they also discussed the “humanitarian crisis” in the embattled Palestinian territory and the need to remove obstacles to the flow of aid.
According to White House national security spokeswoman John Kirby, gaps remain between Israel and Hamas, which runs the Palestinian enclave, in the effort to reach a truce, but “we are closer now than we have been before.”
“Both sides have to make compromises,” Kirby added.
According to State Department spokeswoman Matt Miller, “I think the message from the American side in that meeting will be that we need to get this deal over the line.”
The visit coincides with a shift in US politics. Biden, 81, bowed down from the US presidential campaign on Sunday after being pressured by fellow Democrats and backed Harris for the party’s 2024 presidential candidacy.
“We’ve got a lot to talk about,” Biden remarked as he welcomed Netanyahu into the Oval Office.
“I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,” Biden was told by Netanyahu.
On Thursday, the White House was surrounded by additional security barriers to prevent demonstrators from entering.
Biden and Netanyahu previously met with the relatives of American hostages held by Hamas. Following the meeting, representatives for the families informed reporters that they hoped for a cease-fire agreement that would allow the hostages to return home.
“We came today with a sense of urgency,” explained Jonathan Dekel-Chen. He stated that they were more optimistic about a deal following the initial release of Israeli hostages during a prior ceasefire.
Strains in Biden-Netanyahu relations
Biden-Netanyahu relations have been strained for months due to Israel’s Gaza offensive, which has killed over 39,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
The United States is a key arms supplier to Israel, and it has shielded the country from critical UN votes.
It remains to be seen if Biden, a “lame duck” president who will not serve another term, or Harris, who is tied in several electoral polls with Republican candidate Donald Trump, can exert any influence on Netanyahu.
Netanyahu will travel to Florida on Friday to meet with Trump.
Harris has sided with Biden on Israel but has taken a harsher stance.
The conflict started on October 7 when Hamas militants struck southern Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people. Israel conducted a retaliatory assault.
According to Israeli figures, Hamas-led fighters captured 250 people on October 7. Some 120 captives are still being held, however Israel believes one-third of them have died.
DEFIANT SPEECH.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu delivered a forceful speech to the United States Congress, defending Israel’s attacks on Gaza and saying anti-Israel protesters “should be ashamed of themselves.”
The Gaza crisis has fractured the Democratic Party, resulting in months of demonstrations at Biden rallies. A decline in Arab-American support might hamper Democrats’ chances in Michigan, one of only a few states that will decide the Nov. 5 election.
In an Oval Office address on Wednesday night, Biden cited his desire for party unity in the fight to defeat Trump as a major factor for his decision not to seek re-election but instead to back Harris in the 2024 election.
Negotiations on a long-awaited ceasefire-for-hostages agreement in the Gaza crisis appear to be nearing completion, a senior US official said on Wednesday.
US officials have previously made similar promises about a cease-fire, which were thwarted by last-minute disagreements.
