SELMA, Alabama: United States Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday (March 3) called for acceptance of the proposed six-week ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, while criticizing Israel for its lack of aid deliveries to Gaza.
“Given the enormous scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table,” Harris said in a speech in Selma, Alabama as quoted by the AFP news agency.
The comments were the strongest so far by a US administration official about Israel since the war began, as President Joe Biden comes under heavy pressure over his support for Israel and the soaring number of civilian deaths in Gaza.
A senior US official said Saturday that Israel had broadly accepted the deal, which would see a six-week cessation of hostilities if Hamas agreed to release the most vulnerable hostages it holds.
The deal “will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in,” Harris said, calling on Hamas to accept the deal.
“Hamas claims it wants a ceasefire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal.”
Hamas attacks on October 7 resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, with around 250 people believed to have been taken hostage.
The Israeli army said 130 hostages remained in Gaza, 31 of whom were believed to be dead.
Israel’s military response has led to 30,410 deaths, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas government’s Health Ministry.
In unusually strong language, Harris called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to take steps to increase aid to Gaza.
“The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase aid flows. There are no excuses,” Harris said.
He added that Israel “must open new border crossings” and “must not impose unnecessary restrictions on aid delivery”.
Israel reportedly boycotted Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo on Sunday (March 3) after Hamas rejected its request to provide a complete list of names of surviving hostages.
According to an Israeli newspaper, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to attend the talks, which are seen as a possible final hurdle before reaching a deal to halt fighting for six weeks. But that night there was no sign of the Israelis.
“There is no Israeli delegation in Cairo,” Ynet, the online version of Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying. “Hamas refuses to give a clear answer and therefore there is no reason to send an Israeli delegation.”
GANTZ IN WASHINGTON
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made similar remarks in a post on X, saying “It is critical that we expand the flow of aid to Gaza to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation”.
He added: “People urgently need more food, water and other assistance. That’s why the US is working to get more help through every available channel, including airdrops.” It starts on Saturday.
Harris is scheduled to meet with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, in Washington on Monday.
“The vice president’s meeting is part of our ongoing efforts to engage with a wide range of Israeli officials about the war in Gaza and planning for the next day,” a White House official said Sunday.
Israel’s former military chief, Netanyahu’s longtime rival, will also meet with the White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and Blinken, according to US officials.
“Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed,” Harris said, highlighting the deaths on Thursday in chaotic scenes around a convoy of aid trucks.
People “trying to secure food for their families after weeks of almost no aid reaching northern Gaza… were met with gunfire and chaos”, Harris said, adding: “Our hearts are broken for the victims of this terrible tragedy .”
“The threat Hamas poses to the Israeli people must be eliminated.”
Harris delivered his remarks at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where a march by hundreds of peaceful activists was violently suppressed by police on March 7, 1965.
The event known as “Bloody Sunday” further accelerated support for black rights and helped lead months later to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, a federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.
