As the one-year anniversary of the Gaza War approaches, Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris stated that Washington will continue to exert pressure on Israel and other countries in the Middle East to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
In a short video released on Sunday, October 6, Harris, in an interview with CBS News program “60 Minutes,” expressed that diplomatic work with Israel is an ongoing effort.
During the interview, Harris avoided the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a “true close ally.”
“I think, frankly, the better question is have we established a critical alliance between the American people and the Israeli people, and the answer to that is yes,” she said.
Harris reiterated the United States’ position of supporting Israel’s right to self-defense when faced with threats from Iran and Iran-backed extremist groups such as Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Now, the diplomacy we are engaged in with Israeli leaders is an ongoing effort centering on clarifying our principles,” she said. “We will not cease pressuring Israel and Arab leaders in the region, including.”
President Biden proposed a three-stage ceasefire plan for Gaza on May 31, but an agreement has not been reached between Israel and Hamas due to differences over the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, as well as Israel’s demand to maintain a military presence in Gaza adjacent to Egypt.
On Friday, October 4, Harris met with Arab Americans and Muslim leaders in Flint, Michigan, in an effort to regain support from pro-Palestinian voters who are angered by the U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of the Muslim advocacy group Emgage Action, expressed disappointment at the way the U.S. handled the crisis and called on Harris to do everything in her power to end the war and reassess U.S. policy in the region.
(The article referenced reporting from Reuters.)