US Vice President Kamala Harris has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an early ceasefire agreement with Hamas and ‘permanently end’ the devastating war in Gaza. Harris has made this request to the Israeli Prime Minister amid rising casualties and deepening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian region. Harris and Netanyahu met at the ‘White House’ complex, the official residence and office of the US President.
After the meeting, the Vice President said, “Israel has the right to defend itself and the way it does so matters. What has happened in Gaza in the last nine months is devastating.”
Harris, who is being seen as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the US presidential election, said, “There are pictures of desperate, hungry people and dead children fleeing for safety after being displaced for the second, third or fourth time in many cases. We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies. I will not remain silent.” Harris also stressed the need for a two-nation solution.
Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu met President Joe Biden. A day before the meeting at the White House, Netanyahu addressed the Congress (US Parliament) and vowed a ‘complete victory’ against Hamas. Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated outside the Parliament. As the war enters its ninth month, pressure on Netanyahu to end the Israel-Gaza war is constantly increasing.
Harris said, ‘I have said this many times, but it is important to repeat it. Israel has the right to defend itself and the way it does so matters. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization. Hamas started this war on October 7 by killing 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans.’
He said, ‘Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and taken 250 people hostage. There are American citizens who are held captive in Gaza.’ The Vice President said that during his meeting with Netanyahu, he expressed deep concern about the human suffering in Gaza, including the death of a large number of innocent civilians.
He said, ‘I have expressed serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there. More than 20 lakh people are facing food insecurity and five lakh people are facing severe level of food insecurity. What has happened in Gaza in the last nine months is devastating.’
Harris said that talks are going on regarding a ceasefire and hostage release agreement. He said that the first phase of the agreement will be a complete ceasefire, under which the Israeli army will withdraw from the populated centers of Gaza and in the second phase the Israeli army will completely withdraw from Gaza and this will lead to a permanent end to the hostilities.
Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris for presidential candidacy
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the presidency. On Friday morning, a video surfaced of a phone call between the Obama couple and Kamala Harris. Obama endorsed Harris a few days after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race. This will strengthen her challenge against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Former President Obama told Harris, ‘Michelle and I are very proud to support you and we will do everything possible to make you win this election and reach the ‘Oval Office’ (Presidential Office).’
Michelle Obama said, ‘I am proud of you (Kamala Harris). This is going to be historic.’ Harris expressed her gratitude for the support and her friendship. She said, ‘Thank you both. This means a lot to me. We are going to do something great with this.’
President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he would not contest the upcoming presidential election. Along with this, he endorsed the name of Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party.
After Biden’s exit from the presidential race, prominent leaders of the Democratic Party immediately stood in support of Harris. Presidential elections are proposed in the US on November 5 this year. Harris was not mentioned in Barack Obama’s initial statement after Biden’s announcement of not contesting the presidential election. The former president had said, ‘I am confident that an excellent candidate will emerge from our party.’