Vice President Kamala Harris is facing mounting criticism for her stance on Israel and her reported lack of pressure on Hamas to accept a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict with Gaza. President Trump publicly criticized Harris' remarks, while Israeli officials reportedly expressed concerns about her comments on civilian deaths and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Vice President Kamala Harris's recent comments urging Israel to make a deal with Hamas have drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Former President Donald Trump publicly lambasted Harris for her "disrespectful" remarks, and Israeli officials reportedly expressed concerns that her statements could impede progress toward a cease-fire.
Harris's remarks came after a "frank and constructive" meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. She publicly pressed Netanyahu to "get this deal done" and agree to a cease-fire to end Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. However, Harris has refused to say whether she is also pushing Hamas to relent at the negotiating table.
VP Kamala Harris Faces Scrutiny Over Israel Criticism, Lack of Pressure on Hamas
Harris's meeting with Netanyahu was part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The current iteration of the proposed deal has two phases, according to Harris. Phase one calls for a full cease-fire, including a withdrawal of the Israeli military from population centers in Gaza. The second phase would see the Israeli military withdraw from Gaza "entirely."
Harris said that there was "hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal." However, when asked repeatedly by Fox News Digital whether she is applying the same pressure to Hamas leaders to accept the terms as she is to Netanyahu and Israel, her office did not respond.
VP Kamala Harris Faces Scrutiny Over Israel Criticism, Lack of Pressure on Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the Biden administration's support for Israel's right to defend itself. However, he has also expressed concern about the Biden administration's emphasis on civilian casualties in Gaza and the humanitarian situation there.
In her meeting with Netanyahu, Harris condemned Hamas as a "brutal terrorist organization" that has "committed horrific acts." However, she still lobbied to "get the deal done so we can get a cease-fire to end the war."
VP Kamala Harris Faces Scrutiny Over Israel Criticism, Lack of Pressure on Hamas
Harris also stressed a "serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza."
Netanyahu was reportedly unhappy with Harris's mentioning of civilian deaths in Gaza and characterization of the "dire humanitarian situation there." An Israeli official told Axios that there was some concern that Harris's remarks could actually impede progress toward the cease-fire that she apparently desires.
VP Kamala Harris Faces Scrutiny Over Israel Criticism, Lack of Pressure on Hamas
However, an aide to Harris dismissed that notion. The aide told Fox News that President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered the same message in their private meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu: It's time to get the cease-fire and hostage deal done.
The aide added that Harris's public comments tracked with her previous comments on the conflict. She started with underscoring rock-solid support for Israel and then expressed concern about civilian causalities and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as she always does.
The meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Vice President Harris was described as serious and collegial.
