Kamala Harris, the vice president of the United States, has appealed for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for a permanent end to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
In her speech, Harris also called out Israel for not doing enough to ease the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
She said that the ceasefire should be for six weeks.
“People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act,” Harris said.
“The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.”
She laid out specific ways Israel can allow more aid into Gaza.
“They must open new border crossings. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid. They must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites and convoys are not targeted, and they must work to restore basic services and promote order in Gaza, so more food, water and fuel can reach those in need.”
US Vice President made no mention of the fact that Israel is widely accepted, per top UN and other humanitarian agencies, to be systematically blocking aid and denying life-saving shipments of food to the besieged territory.
“We saw hungry desperate people approach aid trucks, simply trying to secure food for their families, after weeks of nearly no aid reaching northern Gaza,” she said, referring to an incident in Gaza City on Thursday that saw Israeli troops kill more than 100 starving Palestinians in Gaza City.
“And they were met with gunfire and chaos,” she continued, without naming Israel as the perpetrator of that massacre.
Despite her criticism of Israel, Harris was also very vocal about her support for the country who have been waging genocidal war against Palestine. “President Joe Biden and I are unwavering in our commitment to Israel’s security,” she continued, adding that Hamas must be destroyed.
Meanwhile the Heath Ministry in Gaza says Israeli forces again opened fire at people seeking aid in Gaza City, killing and wounding dozens in another “horrific massacre.”
At least 30,410 Palestinians have been killed and 71,700 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.
