Vice President Kamala Harris, who is widely expected to be the Democratic presidential candidate in the United States, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting the U.S., on the 25th (local time) and urged an early end to the Gaza Strip war. Regarding the stalled ceasefire negotiations, she emphasized that "it is time to make the negotiations succeed."
According to NBC News, Vice President Harris met with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C. that afternoon. This was Harris's first meeting with a foreign dignitary since solidifying her position as the successor to President Joe Biden, who has withdrawn from the candidacy.
Vice President Harris described the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu as "frank and constructive" during a press briefing immediately afterward. She explained that she acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense but conveyed that "how one defends is important." In particular, she confirmed that she strongly expressed that "it is time to make the negotiations succeed" regarding the ceasefire talks.
Additionally, Vice President Harris expressed serious concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating, "What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months has been devastating," and "We cannot turn a blind eye to this tragedy. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. I will not remain silent." She urged, "Let us make the negotiations succeed and achieve a ceasefire to end the war," and insisted, "Hostages must be returned, and urgently needed aid must be provided to the Palestinian people." She also reaffirmed her support for the 'two-state solution' in which Israel and Palestine coexist.
Despite being the ex officio President of the Senate, Vice President Harris did not attend Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address to the House and Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. the previous day. Typically, the Vice President, as President of the Senate, sits beside the Speaker of the House during foreign leaders' speeches. Harris cited campaign schedule conflicts as the reason for her absence, but locally, it is assessed that she is taking a cautious approach as a future presidential candidate, considering her existing support base critical of President Joe Biden's pro-Israel stance.
During his visit to the U.S., Prime Minister Netanyahu also met with President Biden on the same day to discuss ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. At the meeting, Netanyahu first expressed, "I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for Israel." It was the first direct meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu in about nine months since October last year.
President Biden, who has decided not to seek re-election, identified ending the Gaza war and securing the return of hostages as one of the key tasks to focus on during his remaining six months in office in his national address the previous day. However, in his congressional speech the day before, Netanyahu stated that he would not compromise unless Hamas is completely destroyed and a full victory is achieved. Consequently, some speculate that Netanyahu is not actively engaging in negotiations and may be stalling until the election of former President Donald Trump, who is perceived to be more favorable to him. Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to Florida on the 26th to hold talks with former President Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort.
John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Coordinator, explained at a briefing that there are "still some gaps" in the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. After the meeting between President Biden and Netanyahu, they also held about a one-hour meeting with American families whose relatives are held hostage by Hamas.
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