Kamala Harris' double stand: US VP extends support to Israel, but calls for ceasefire, decries Gaza killings

United StatesVice President Kamala Harris appeared to be taking a balanced stand on the Israel-Hamas war, which is unusual for the world's most powerful nation, when she met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a rare take, Kamala Harris held the Israeli government responsible for the death of “far too many” civilians in the Gaza Strip and said “I will not be silent” as she also pledged “unwavering” support for the right of existence of the Jewish state.

In her first remarks on the Israel-Hamas war after the country's presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Harris on Thursday (July 25) said that “it is time for this war to end” and also argued that the warwas not a “binary issue”.

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“To everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire, and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you,” said the 59-year old Harris,just after Netanyahu departed the White House.

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“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating — the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time. We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering and I will not be silent," Harris said.

She said that she will "always" make sure that Israel is able to defend itself and added, “There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal. And as I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done."

“Let’s get the deal done so we can get a cease-fire to end the war. Let’s bring the hostages home, and let’s provide much-needed relief to the Palestinian people. And ultimately, I remain committed to a path forward that can lead to a two-state solution," the country's vice president further said.

Kamala Harris says 'dire humanitarian situation in Gaza'

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee slammed Hamas and said she will continue working for the US citizens held hostage in Gaza.

“On October 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 Innocent people, including 44 Americans. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages,” Harris said.

“There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza:Sagui Dekel-Chen,Hersch Goldberg-Polin, Edan Alexander. Keith Seigel, Omer Neutra,' she added.

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“I have met with the families of these American hostages multiple times now. And I’ve told them each time they are not alone, and I stand with them. And President Biden and I are working every day to bring them home," the vice president further said..

She elaborated further and said, “I told [Netanyahu] that I will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself including from Iran and Iran-backed militias, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. From when I was a young girl, collecting funds to plant trees for Israel, to my time in the United States Senate and now at the White House, I’ve had an unwavering commitment to the existence of the State of Israel, to its security and to the people of Israel.”

“I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians. And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there with over 2 million people facing high levels of food insecurity and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity," she added.

(With inputs from agencies)