“I will not remain silent”

Vice President Kamala Harris “Israel has the right to defend itself … and how it defends itself is critical,” Harris said after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Thursday.

“It’s time to end this war, one way or another. Israel It is safe, all hostages have been released, the suffering of Palestinians Gaza “The Palestinian people can exercise their rights to freedom, dignity and self-determination,” Harris said.

Since Harris launched her campaign on Sunday, the de facto Democratic presidential nominee has faced challenges in further clarifying her Israel-Hamas War in Gazaand now it has entered its tenth month.

Harris said her conversation with Netanyahu was “frank” and urged him to move forward with a multi-phase plan to de-escalate the war in densely populated Gaza, release hostages and allow Palestinians in Gaza to resume their daily lives.

“There has been encouraging progress in the negotiations and there is hope that this deal can be agreed upon. As I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, now is the time to get this deal done,” she said.

“So to all of you who have called for a ceasefire, to all of you who long for peace, I see you and I hear you… Let us bring the hostages home. Let us provide the Palestinian people with much-needed relief.”

The meeting came during a polarizing visit by Netanyahu and an Israeli delegation to Washington.

Although Netanyahu Addressing a Joint Session of Congress Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to protest Obama’s visit and U.S. support for Israel. Protesters vandalized statues and burned American flags, replacing them with Palestinian flags.

In a statement released early Thursday about the protests, Harris said: “I condemn anyone associated with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to destroy the State of Israel and kill Jewish people. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our country.”

“Let us together condemn terrorism and violence,” Harris said after meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday. “Let us do everything we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians. Let us condemn anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hatred of any kind. Let us work to unite our country.”

Biden and Netanyahu held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House earlier in the day, after which the two heads of state met with the families of the American hostages.

“We are probably more optimistic than we have been since the first round of releases in late November and early December, when more than 100 Israeli hostages were freed,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son, Sagui, is currently held hostage in Gaza.

“We have an absolute commitment from the Biden administration and Prime Minister Netanyahu that they understand the urgency of now to hurry up and get the deal done as it stands.”

According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, Number of Palestinians reported killed The death toll has surpassed 39,000 since the Hamas attack on Israel began on October 7. In addition to the reported deaths, approximately 90,000 Palestinians were reported injured.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,800 people and triggering an Israeli military invasion.

“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is appalling,” Harris said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. I will not remain silent.”