During an interview with Al Sharpton on MSNBC, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her concern about the escalating violence in Gaza, saying, “the number of innocent Palestinians who have been killed in Gaza is really unconscionable and we have to be honest about that.”

She also reiterated her support for Israel’s right to defend itself, adding, “At the same time, I will always stand in terms of Israel’s right to defend itself and we need this war to end.”

When asked about the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israel, in response to his role in orchestrating the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, Harris emphasized the need to end the conflict and free the hostages. “It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be difficult, but we have got to get this war over with. We got to get the hostages out, we need the war to end. In fact, we’re sending [Secretary of State Antony] Blinken out to go and meet with the parties there,” she told Sharpton.

Harris went on to acknowledge that Sinwar’s death had removed a major obstacle, stating, “The death of Sinwar has removed an obstacle, so we’ve got to work at it and work at it through diplomatic means.”

As a key figure in the Democratic Party and the current Vice President, Harris has consistently called for de-escalation in the Middle East, advocating for both a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The U.S. government has been actively promoting a ceasefire and hostage exchange framework, originally outlined by President Joe Biden in May. However, Hamas has repeatedly turned down every proposal put forth by American officials.

Just last month, Hamas claimed that its negotiators had reiterated their willingness to agree to an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza based on an earlier U.S. proposal, stating that they were prepared to move forward without any additional stipulations from other parties.

Harris’ interview followed a controversial episode at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During a speech she gave there, a heckler accused her of supporting Israel’s actions, calling it “genocide.” The confrontation occurred last Thursday, with a pro-Hamas student shouting accusations that the U.S. had invested “billions of dollars in genocide.”

After the student was removed, Harris seemed to acknowledge the validity of the issue, telling the audience that the concern “was real.”

A representative from Harris’ campaign later clarified the situation, saying, “That is not the view of the Biden-Harris Administration or the Vice President.”

{Matzav.com}