Photo: Getty Images via Agence France-Presse US Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas to end the war in the Gaza Strip.
Danny Kemp – Agence France-Presse in Washington
Published yesterday at 8:45 p.m. Updated yesterday at 11:26 p.m.
- United States
Kamala Harris on Thursday signaled a possible major shift in U.S. policy toward Gaza, vowing not to remain “silent” in the face of civilian suffering and stressing the need to reach a peace deal without delay.
Far from the habits of outgoing US President Joe Biden, who favours behind-the-scenes pressure on Israel, the vice-president declared, after meeting with the Prime Minister of the Hebrew State, Benjamin Netanyahu, that it was time to put an end to the “devastating” war.
“What has happened in Gaza over the last nine months is devastating,” she declared, referring to the “dead children” and the “desperate and hungry people fleeing for safety.”
“We cannot look away from these tragedies. We cannot afford to become numb to the suffering and I will not remain silent,” she added before the press.
The 59-year-old former senator, who is now in the race for the White House after Joe Biden withdrew last weekend, said she stressed the dire situation to Mr. Netanyahu during the “frank” meeting.
She urged him to reach a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas to end the war sparked by the Palestinian movement’s attack on Israel on October 7.
“As I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it’s time to make that deal,” she said.
Ms. Harris also called for the creation of a Palestinian state, which the prime minister opposes. Israeli.
A speech that contrasts with the image of great cordiality displayed by Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day.
The American president also called on Benjamin Netanyahu to “finalize” the ceasefire agreement to allow “the hostages to be brought home” and “to put a lasting end to the war,” according to a report of their meeting released by the White House.
Speeding up negotiations
Joe Biden asked the Israeli prime minister to work to conclude a ceasefire “quickly,” in the tenth month of the war in the Gaza Strip.
The two leaders, who have notoriously complicated relations, were keen to display their closeness in front of the cameras during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House.
A meeting which came just four days after the sensational announcement that Mr. Biden, 81, was withdrawing from the campaign leading up to the November presidential election.
“I would like to thank you for these 50 years of work in public service and support for the State of Israel,” the Israeli leader said, before adding: “I look forward to working with you in the months ahead.” »
The American president has shown his strong support for Israel since the beginning of the conflict, but has become increasingly critical as the number of civilian casualties in Gaza has risen.
He now wants to put pressure on Mr. Netanyahu in the hope of reaching a ceasefire agreement in this devastating war in Gaza.
Photo: Andrew Harnik Getty Images via Agence France-Presse US President Joe Biden (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meet in the Oval Office in Washington on Thursday
“The president will reiterate to Prime Minister Netanyahu that he believes we need to get to an agreement and we need to get to it quickly,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
“We can get to an agreement, but it will take, as it always does, leadership and compromise,” he added.
While the two men have met frequently, this is the Israeli prime minister’s first visit to the White House since the start of Biden.
The leaders then met with families of American hostages held in Gaza, who described the meeting as “productive.”
Meeting with Trump
To conclude his trip across the Atlantic, Mr. Netanyahu will travel to Florida on Friday at the invitation of Donald Trump, whom he thanked extensively in his speech to lawmakers in Washington.
On Thursday morning, the former Republican president urged Israel to “end” its war in Gaza quickly, warning that its global image was being tarnished.
“We have to end this quickly. This cannot go on.” “It's too long,” he told Fox News.
During Mr Netanyahu’s lengthy address to Congress, Republicans applauded him loudly, while more than 60 Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, boycotted his speech.
They condemn his conduct of the war, which has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and a humanitarian catastrophe.
Demonstrators gathered outside the White House on Thursday to protest the Israeli leader’s visit. The day before, thousands took to the streets of the US capital.