Harris calls Gaza situation ‘heartbreaking’ while supporting Israel

New York: Vice President Kamala Harris has drawn criticism from pro-Palestinian protesters over her ‘full-throated defense ‘of Israel in her speech on Thursday night, NBC News reported.

However, Harris at the convention talked at length about the situation in Gaza expressing sympathy for the innocent lives lost in the war, while urging for a cease-fire deal.

It is reported that pro-Palestinian protesters held demonstrations outside the Convention hall every night.

‘Let me be clear, I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself, and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself, because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on Oct. 7, including unspeakable sexual violence and the massacre of young people at a music festival,’ Harris was quoted as saying.

She said that what happened in Gaza in the past 10 months is devastating with so many innocent being lost alongside hungry people fleeing for safety, adding that ‘ The scale of suffering is heartbreaking’.

Harris claimed that President Biden and she are working to the end the war in Gaza thus to ensure ‘ Israel is secure’ alongside releasing hostages.

Harris said: “the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”

However, she reportedly faced pressure from some in her Democratic Party to distance herself from Biden’s support for Israel, according to the report.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this week claimed Israel had accepted a U.S. proposal to continue the negotiations for a cease-fire.

However, he added that it was "probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security."