Kamala Harris says she 'will not be silent' on Gaza after tough talks with Benjamin Netanyahu

Kamala Harris says she 'will not be silent' on Gaza after tough talks with Benjamin Netanyahu

Video

29 July, 2024


 

Kamala Harris has signalled a major shift in US Gaza policy, with the presidential hopeful reportedly pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire deal while insisting she would not be "silent" on the suffering in Gaza. Ripping up outgoing President Joe Biden's playbook of mostly behind-the-scenes pressure on Israel, the vice president yesterday told reporters after meeting Netanyahu that it was time to end the "devastating" war. Harris -- now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee after Joe Biden last weekend said he would not stand in November's election -- said she pressed Netanyahu on the dire situation in the "frank" meeting. She also called for the establishment of a Palestinian state and went on to call on both Netanyahu and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and captives release deal. There has been speculation that Harris could adopt a tougher approach on Israel if she wins the November presidential election.