Kamala Harris pushes Israel’s Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: ‘I will not be silent’
- US presidential hopeful tells Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it’s time for the war to end
![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Thursday. Photo: AP](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/26/a94b081e-fd85-4a20-a23e-6aa21da5472a_35a005e5.jpg?itok=6r5T0TNI&v=1721959069)
US Vice-President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than us President Joe Biden.
“It is time for this war to end,” Harris said in a televised statement after she held face-to-face talks with Netanyahu.
Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee after Biden dropped out of the election race on Sunday, did not mince words about the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza after nine months of war between Israel and Hamas militants.
“We cannot allow ourselves to be numb to the suffering and I will not be silent,” she said.
![Pro-Palestinian protesters near the White House on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE Pro-Palestinian protesters near the White House on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/26/459a9913-edd2-463c-acc4-a0b04906a8a8_686e78c9.jpg)
Harris’ remarks were sharp and serious in tone and raised the question of whether she would be more aggressive in dealing with Netanyahu if elected president on November 5.
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