Harris says she will not stay silent on suffering in Gaza
US Vice President Kamala Harris (photo: Getty Images)
US Vice President Kamala Harris stated that she had a frank and constructive meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He arrived in Washington to address Congress and discuss with President Joe Biden the details of a new ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip, reports AP.
In addition to President Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also had a personal conversation with Vice President Harris.
Following their meeting, Harris stated that the war between Israel and Hamas is complex and that often the conversation is dual-faced when reality is something else.
Harris expressed her support for Israel's right to defend itself but also spoke about the widespread suffering among Gaza's civilian population as the war continues.
"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," she said.
Emphasizing that she and President Biden work every day to bring American hostages held in Gaza back home, Harris also voiced concern over the killing and displacement of civilians in the enclave, declaring: "I will not be silent."
Reflecting on her childhood experience of planting trees for Israel, Harris remarked that as a California senator and Vice President, she has an unwavering commitment to the existence of the state of Israel and its people. She asserted that while Israel has the right to defend itself, how it does so matters.
Netanyahu's address to Congress
In his address to Congress on Wednesday, Netanyahu defended Israel's conduct during the war, asserting that his country is currently battling common enemies of both Israel and the US.
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered outside the Capitol with Palestinian flags and calls for Netanyahu's arrest.
Notably, Harris found a formal reason to decline presiding over the Israeli Prime Minister's address to Congress - her previously scheduled visit to a Zeta Phi Beta women's society event in Indianapolis.
Situation in Gaza
According to AP, citing Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war, with around half being women and children.
Approximately 1.8 million of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, many of them repeatedly fleeing relentless bombardments. Essential supplies, such as food, shelter, and even diapers, are in short supply or completely unavailable. Access to clean drinking water is also extremely difficult.
New peace plan
Recently, Hamas gave its initial approval to a US-backed proposal for a phased ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The group dropped its key demand for Israel to completely end the war.
The first peace plan failed primarily due to Israel's reluctance to halt hostilities before dismantling Hamas's entire leadership.
