Kamala Harris presses Benjamin Netanyahu for ceasefire deal in Israel-Hamas war

In her most forceful statements so far on the Israel-Hamas war, Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday urged Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire agreement that U.S. officials believe will end the conflict.

Ms. Harris’ remarks came after a roughly one-hour meeting with Mr. Netanyahu at the Old Executive Office Building on the White House complex. The meeting took on increased significance since it was first scheduled because Ms. Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee after President Biden dropped out of the race.

“I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done,” Ms. Harris said after the meeting. “So for everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you. Let’s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war.”

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A resolution to end the Israel-Hamas war, which started in October with Hamas’ surprise attack, now looms large over Mr. Biden’s legacy and could also boost Ms. Harris’s candidacy. 

U.S. officials do not believe that Mr. Netanyahu is standing in the way of a ceasefire deal and believe progress is being made. Both sides are believed to be pushing for their own goals, but officials say neither side is holding up negotiations.

Ms. Harris was one of the first high-profile U.S. officials to call for a ceasefire. 

The proposal put forth by the U.S. calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Speaking Thursday, Ms. Harris reiterated her call for a two-state solution. She also said that Israel had a right to defend itself, but said she has “serious concerns” about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” she said. “We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering and I will not be silent.”

Earlier Thursday. Mr. Netanyahu met in the Oval Office with Mr. Biden and the two leaders also sat down with the families of American hostages. 

Ms. Harris missed Mr. Netanyahu’s speech before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, choosing instead to attend a previously scheduled speech in Indianapolis. Typically, the vice president presides over joint addresses. 

An administration official said Ms. Harris has participated in every call with Mr. Netanyahu as well as critical meetings like those with hostage families since the war started.

While Ms. Harris has been working alongside Mr. Biden, she is starting to stake out her own position on Israel. 

Despite the uncertainly about her position on Israel, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff on Wednesday made a surprise appearance on a Zoom call hosted by the Jewish Democratic Council of America and Jewish Women for Kamala.

Mr. Emhoff, who is Jewish, told the groups that Ms. Harris “has been and will be a strong supporter of Israel” and “will always ensure that Israel can defend itself, period.” 

Ms. Harris did condemn the antisemitic protests that broke out near Capitol Hill Wednesday. 

“Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation,” she said.