An Israeli official told the press that Vice President Kamala Harris’s remarks about suffering in Gaza may harm Israel during the hostage negotiations.
Harris, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee in the 2024 Presidential campaign, said she would “not be silent” on the suffering of Palestinians during the Gaza war.
In addition, the official said Harris’s statement, “It is time for this war to end,” may send mixed signals to Hamas, as Israel has insisted it should have the right to renew military operations if the deal breaks down. In contrast, Hamas is demanding a commitment to a full ceasefire from the outset, a demand Israel has refused.
“Hopefully, the remarks Harris made in her press conference won’t be interpreted by Hamas as daylight between the US and Israel, thereby making a deal harder to secure,” the senior official said.
“The more the gap widens between our countries, the more we move away from a deal and thus also increase the possibility of a regional escalation,” said the senior official.
