Overview of the situation - Harris and Biden push for hostage deal - Criticism from Israel
The USA pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a swift agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of hostages. U.S. Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris issued stern warnings to Netanyahu regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza during a meeting. "We cannot look away from these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to be insensitive in the face of suffering, and I will not be silent," Harris said after the meeting. Her words prompted criticism within Israel's government.
Discussions of a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the necessity of ending the war, reportedly harmed the hostage negotiations, according to unnamed high-ranking Israeli officials quoted by Israeli media.
For Harris, the meeting with Netanyahu was her first significant test in her role as the presumptive Democratic nominee in the presidential campaign. She aims to defeat Republican Donald Trump in the US election on November 3, after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. Netanyahu is to meet Trump today.
Harris and Biden put pressure on Netanyahu
Prior to the meeting, Biden during his meeting with Netanyahu emphasized the need to "fill in the remaining gaps, quickly conclude the agreement, bring the hostages home, and achieve a permanent end to the war in Gaza," according to the White House. American-Israeli hostages reportedly gained new hope for a deal with the Islamist Hamas following a separate meeting with Biden and Netanyahu, according to a report.
They are now "more optimistic than before," quoted US news outlet "Axios" three sources present at the meeting. Netanyahu reportedly told the hostages, in the presence of Biden, that Israel would present an updated proposal for an agreement within a few days. Indirect negotiations, with the US, Qatar, and Egypt acting as mediators, are set to continue in Doha next week.
Harris urges humanitarian aid
Netanyahu, during a speech before both chambers of the US Congress on Wednesday, contradicted the hopes of relatives of the 115 hostages remaining in Gaza by not announcing an agreement and instead dismissing any criticism of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. "Thanks to Biden's leadership, there is an agreement on the table," Harris said. "There are promising developments in the talks."
As Biden did, Harris urged Netanyahu to strengthen humanitarian aid in Gaza and improve the protection of the civilian population. "Israel has the right to defend itself, and it's important how it does that," Harris said after her meeting with Israel's prime minister. She expressed her "serious concerns over the extent of human suffering in the Gaza Strip," adding that "the death of too many innocent civilians" was a cause for concern.
Trump: With me as President, the events of October 7 would not have happened
Before today's meeting with Netanyahu, Trump spoke out in a Fox News program regarding the conflict in Gaza and Netanyahu's visit to Florida at his Mar-a-Lago estate. "I hope he wraps it up quickly." [
Translation completed. No additional messages or comments added.
With him as US-President, the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7 would not have happened, Trump claimed. "October 7 would never have happened. If I had been President, it wouldn't have had a chance. Iran would have been bankrupt, they wouldn't have given money for Hamas or Hezbollah. It simply wouldn't have happened - no chance," the 78-year-old said. The massacre was the trigger for the war in the Gaza Strip.
Praising Words for Trump in Netanyahu Speech Previously
Netanyahu had praised Trump in his speech before the US Congress on Wednesday. He went into detail about Trump's achievements during his presidency from 2017 to 2021. In particular, he highlighted the so-called Abraham Accords. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed diplomatic normalization agreements with Israel under Trump's mediation in 2020, making them the first Gulf states to do so.
"I would also like to thank President Trump for all the things he has done for Israel," Netanyahu said in his speech further, "from the recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the countering of Iranian aggression, to the recognition of Jerusalem as our capital and the relocation of the American embassy."
Details about the meeting are still unknown. Trump announced the invitation on his online platform Truth Social. Netanyahu reportedly requested the meeting. Biden could view the meeting as an affront. Trump, who is in the heated phase of the election campaign, continues to generate headlines with receptions of high-ranking government officials. Recently, the Republican Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was received at his residence.
- Despite the criticism from Israel's government, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris firmly stood against the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
- The talks about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a ceasefire potentially impacted the hostage negotiations, as suggested by Israeli officials.
- Kamala Harris, as the presumptive Democratic nominee, is aiming to defeat Donald Trump in the US election on November 3, following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.
- In a separate meeting with Netanyahu, Biden emphasized the importance of ending the war in Gaza and bringing the hostages home.
- The American-Israeli hostages reportedly felt more optimistic about a deal with Hamas due to Biden's intervention, according to sources.
- Netanyahu told the hostages that Israel would present an updated agreement proposal within a few days, in the presence of Biden.
- Harris urged Netanyahu to strengthen humanitarian aid in Gaza and improve protection for the civilian population.
- Netanyahu dismissed any criticism of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip during his speech before the US Congress but acknowledged the presence of an agreement on the table.
- Trump criticized Biden for not preventing the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7 and claimed that, as president, he could have prevented it.
- Netanyahu thanked Trump for his achievements during his presidency, including the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in his speech before the US Congress.
- Trump and Netanyahu's meeting, although details remain unknown, may be perceived as an affront to the Biden administration, who could view it as interference in diplomatic relations.
