Vice President Kamala Harris was pressed on her policies surrounding the war in Gaza while speaking to members of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) on Tuesday.
The Democratic presidential nominee reestablished during the interview in Philadelphia that she stands for a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, as well as for a two-state solution after the conflict is settled. Harris has said that she supports Israel’s right to defend itself after the October 7 attacks but that “how it does so matters.”
An NABJ interviewer specifically asked Harris to define “the line between aggression and defense” in terms of Israel’s military action, which, according to the Gaza health ministry, has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, per the Associated Press. In Hamas’ attacks in October, 1,200 people were killed and approximately 250 others were taken hostage.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris answers questions during a moderated conversation with members of the National Association of Black Journalists on September 17 in Philadelphia. Harris was pressed on her policies regarding the war in Gaza during the interview.
Win McNamee/GETTY IMAGES
Harris responded to the question by stating that she “absolutely” believes “this war has to end” and acknowledged the lives lost on October 7, adding that Israel “has the right to defend itself. We would.” An NABJ panelist interrupted the vice president partly through her answer, stating that her question was regarding “the difference between aggression and defense.”
“No no, let me finish—it’s important to put it in context, which is what I’m doing,” Harris said, adding that she’ll “get to” addressing the journalist’s question later.
Harris’ campaign has faced pressure from large swathes of the Democratic voter base including some progressive lawmakers to take a step back from Washington’s support of Israel amid the war in Gaza. The vice president did call for a ceasefire in the conflict more quickly than President Joe Biden, but she has aligned herself with many of the president’s policies, including the refusal of calls to adopt an arms embargo against Israel.
Harris on Tuesday said that she supported Biden’s decision to withhold shipments of bombs to Israel in May as the Israeli military prepared for a ground invasion of the city of Rafah. Biden eventually lifted part of the freeze and sent Israel a shipment of 500-pound bombs in July. The U.S. has continued to hold off on sending shipments of 2,000-pound bombs.
When pressed further on if she would make any specific policy changes as president, however, Harris told the NABJ panel, “We need to get this deal done … and that is my position, that is my policy.”
“We are doing the work of putting the pressure on all parties involved to get the deal done,” Harris added. “But let me be very clear also, I support Israel’s ability to defend itself, and I support the need for Palestinians to have dignity, self-determination and security as we move forward and get a two-state deal done.”
Newsweek reached out to Harris’ campaign for additional comment on Tuesday.
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump has accused Harris of opposing the state of Israel. He has also said that Jewish voters who support Harris “hate Israel” and their own religion.
During the candidates’ presidential debate last week, Trump said that if Harris is elected in November, “I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now.”
Harris pushed back on Trump’s claim, saying that she has spent her “entire career and life” supporting Israel. Her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, is Jewish.
