Washington: US Vice President Kamala Harris has met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the meeting, highlighting the human suffering including the deaths of civilians in the ongoing war in Gaza, Harris said that Israel has the right to self-defense but what matters is how it defends itself. Harris met Netanyahu at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the ‘White House’ complex, the official residence and office of the US President.
Israel has the right to defend’
Kamala Harris told reporters immediately after the meeting, “I have said this many times, but it is important to repeat it. Israel has the right to defend itself and how it does so matters. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization. Hamas started this war by killing 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans, on October 7. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and taken 250 people hostage. There are American citizens who are being held captive in Gaza.”
‘I will not remain silent’
Harris said, “I have expressed grave concern about the dire humanitarian situation there. More than 2 million people are facing food insecurity and 500,000 people are facing severe level of food insecurity. What has happened in Gaza in the last nine months is devastating.” Harris 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.”
‘Talks are going on’
The US Vice President said that talks are going on regarding a ceasefire and an agreement for the release of hostages. He said that the first phase of the agreement would be a complete ceasefire, under which the Israeli army would withdraw from the populated centers of Gaza and in the second phase, the Israeli army would completely withdraw from Gaza and this would lead to a permanent end to hostilities. He said, “The time has come to end this war and it should end in such a way that Israel is safe, all hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends and Palestinians can exercise their right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. There has been promising progress in the talks regarding this agreement.”
‘The time has come for an agreement’
Harris said, “I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu that the time has come to do this agreement. I am seeing and hearing those who want a ceasefire and peace. Let us do this agreement so that we can end the war, bring the hostages back home and provide much-needed relief to the Palestinians.
