Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday forcefully called for more humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying that people in the region are “starving” in the face of “inhumane” conditions and urging Israel to do more in one of the strongest pushes by a US official to date.
Harris – who was in Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday – has been closely monitoring the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and has been involved in the post-conflict planning for the besieged coastal enclave.
Her Sunday remarks marked an escalation in the US push to address the situation in Gaza. “The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses,” Harris said.
From the official White House transcript:
So, before I begin today, I must address the humanitarian crisis in
Gaza. (Applause.) What we are seeing every day in Gaza is
devastating. We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal
feed, women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no
medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration.
As
I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been
killed. And just a few days ago, 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. And they were met
with gunfire and chaos.
Our hearts break for the victims of that
horrific tragedy and for all the innocent people in Gaza who are
suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe. (Applause.)
People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane. And our common humanity compels us to act.
As
President Joe Biden said on Friday, the United States is committed to
urgently get more lifesaving assistance to innocent Palestinians in
need.
Yesterday, the Department of Defense carried out its first airdrop of
humanitarian assistance, and the United States will continue these
airdrops. And we will work on a new route by sea to deliver aid.
And
the Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow
of aid. (Applause.) No excuses. 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.
As
I have said repeatedly since October 7th, Israel has a right to defend
itself. And President Joe Biden and I are unwavering in our commitment
to Israel’s security.
Hamas cannot control Gaza, and the threat
Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated. Hamas is a
brutal terrorist organization that has vowed to repeat October 7th again
and again until Israel is annihilated.
Hamas has shown no regard
for innocent life, including for the people of Gaza, who have suffered
under its rule for almost two decades. And Hamas still holds dozens of
hostages, for nearly 150 days now — innocent men and women, including
American citizens, who were brutally taken from their homes and from a
concert.
I will repeat: The threat of — Hamas poses to the people
of Israel must be eliminated. And given the immense scale of suffering
in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire — (applause) — for at
least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table.
This
will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in. This
would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is
more secure and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to
dignity, freedom, and self-determination. (Applause.)
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.
Let’s
get a ceasefire. Let’s reunite the hostages with their families. And
let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza. (Applause.)
Okay, that's a big step for The White House. They have several more big steps to make before they can catch up with the rest of America. Second, she's terming it a "cease-fire" but it's a pause. That's what she's asking for.
The American people? We want a true cease-fire.
THE NATIONAL notes, "The Biden administration is under growing domestic pressure to address the suffering of Palestinian civilians, with demands for a ceasefire on the rise, notably among Mr Biden's own Democrats."
Is it going to take the White House another five months to get to where we are?
That's cutting it awful close -- August is not that far from November -- when the presidential election will be held.
What the White House won't grasp, other US politicians will. THE NATIONAL notes, "Democratic senators have called on President Joe Biden to press Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza, citing the recent deaths of Palestinian civilians and what they portrayed as a lagging US response to the humanitarian crisis."
While THE GUARDIAN notes:
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that the Israeli military is continuing its “siege and targeting” of the al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis for the 42nd consecutive day.
The PRCS said the occupation has led to a “catastrophic deterioration” in conditions at the site, with food supplies due to run out in a week and drinking water to run out in three days, while there is a shortage of some medical supplies and a build up of waste, which is leading to the spread of infectious diseases.
, Ibrahim Dahman and Amy Cassidy (CNN) report, "A growing number of children in Gaza are dying from dehydration and malnutrition, the Palestinian health ministry said Sunday, amid desperate conditions due to Israel’s throttling of aid and destruction of the besieged enclave — reinforcing the urgency of this week’s ceasefire talks." ABC NEWS adds, "At least 10 children have reportedly died in recent days from dehydration and malnutrition while at a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, a UNICEF official said Sunday."
The following sites updated:
