US Vice President Kamala Harris has vowed to not remain “silent” about the suffering in Gaza, shifting focus to the plight of Palestinians as she navigates the conflict that divides her Democratic Party, Al Jazeera reported.
After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Thursday, Harris affirmed her unwavering commitment to Israel’s security but highlighted the high number of innocent civilian casualties in the conflict.
“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating. The images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced multiple times,” Harris said. “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.”
As the likely Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election, Harris said she urged Netanyahu to accept a US-backed ceasefire proposal.
“It is time for this war to end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity, and self-determination,” she was quoted as saying.
Harris reiterated her support for Israel’s right to self-defense, condemned Hamas as a “brutal terrorist organization,” and named five US citizens believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, along with two others whose remains are thought to be there.
“I have met with the families of these American hostages multiple times and assured them that they are not alone. President Biden and I are working every day to bring them home,” she added.
