Kamala Harris Addresses Gaza Conflict at Democratic Convention

Kamala Harris Addresses the Gaza Conflict at the Democratic Convention

During her address at the Democratic convention on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris confronted one of the most contentious issues facing the party: the ongoing war in Gaza. In a move that echoed the sentiments of President Biden, she articulated her stance with striking clarity.

As she concluded her acceptance speech, the atmosphere in the hall shifted. Supporters who had enthusiastically applauded her advocacy for reproductive rights and her strong rebukes of Donald Trump fell silent as she broached the sensitive topic. “With respect to the war in Gaza …” she began.

“Let me be clear,” she emphasized, using the phrase twice, fully aware that just outside the convention hall, a group of demonstrators was vocally urging the United States to halt its military support to Israel. They sought to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the bombardment of densely populated neighborhoods in Gaza, part of his effort to eliminate Hamas leadership.

In her speech, she stated:

“President Biden and I are working around the clock because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a cease-fire deal done.”

“Let me be clear: I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself. The people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on October 7.”

Harris continued, acknowledging the profound devastation inflicted upon Gaza over the past ten months. “So many innocent lives lost,” she lamented. She articulated her and Biden’s commitment to ending the conflict in a manner that would ensure Israel’s security, facilitate the release of hostages, alleviate the suffering in Gaza, and allow the Palestinian people to achieve their rightful dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

• “I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself,” she reiterated.
• She highlighted the necessity for Israel to avoid the horrors of the past, referring to the tragic events of October 7.
• Harris specifically mentioned the “unspeakable sexual violence” that occurred during the massacre at a music festival, an allegation that Hamas has consistently denied.
• She described the “devastating” impact of the conflict and the considerable loss of innocent lives, noting that “the scale of the suffering is heartbreaking.”

However, much like President Biden, she did not indicate that, if elected, she would leverage America’s significant military support for Israel to encourage a change in its military tactics. There was no mention of the complicated dynamics in the relationship with Netanyahu, a relationship she has observed closely, participating in tense discussions and phone calls with the Israeli leader.