(Dan Tri) – Vice President Kamala Harris has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of hostages, marking what appears to be the strongest statement by a senior US official on the conflict.
US Vice President Kamala Harris (Photo: AFP).
In a statement released on March 2, local time, in Selma, Alabama, Vice President Harris frankly criticized Israel for not making enough efforts to alleviate the `humanitarian disaster` in Gaza, in the context of the government
Ms. Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for Hamas to accept an agreement to release hostages in exchange for a six-week ceasefire.
But Ms. Harris placed more emphasis on Israel, marking the harshest reprimand statement by a senior leader in the US administration aimed at a close ally.
`People in Gaza are starving. Conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act,` Harris said at an event commemorating the 59th anniversary of `Bloody Sunday`.
`The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase aid flows. There is no excuse for the current reality,` the US Vice President added.
Ms. Harris’s comments reflect the US government’s strong disappointment with the Gaza war.
Harris said Israel must open new border crossings, not impose `unnecessary restrictions` on aid deliveries, and protect humanitarian workers and convoys from being targeted by attacks.
The US delivered its first aid to Gaza on March 2 and Ms. Harris will meet with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on March 4 at the White House, where she is expected to deliver a message.
On March 3, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo (Egypt) to attend the latest round of ceasefire negotiations, considered by many to be the final barrier that could lead to a ceasefire.
The US had previously confirmed that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was close to being reached, and would soon be signed before the start of Ramadan.
A deal would help bring about the first lasting ceasefire in the war, which has lasted for five months so far and was paused for only a week in November 2023.
However, according to sources, Israel stopped ceasefire negotiations in Gaza after Hamas refused its request to provide a list of hostages still alive.
Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip (Photo: Reuters).
Reuters quoted a source summarizing the negotiations in Cairo as saying that Israel may continue to negotiate with Hamas if this force provides a full list of hostages still alive.
Speaking on this issue, Ms. Harris said: `Hamas claims they want a ceasefire. Yes, there is an agreement on the table. And as we said, Hamas needs to agree to that agreement.`
