Does Kamala Harris support Israel? Her position on Gaza war

Editorial Team
Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

Kamala Harris strongly supports Israel’s security and freedom, and she backs its efforts to defend itself. She has repeatedly emphasized that Israel should be able to defend itself from organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. Harris has talked about being concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and at the same time, she has supported Israel’s defense resolve. She has stressed following international rules for humane conduct, asked for a pause in fighting so humanitarian supplies can get into Gaza, and urged Israel to enhance its efforts to keep people safe and improve access to relief.

Harris has said that she will not stay quiet about what is happening in Gaza while also acknowledging difficulties on both sides. Harris has refused to back the idea of an arms embargo on Israel because she wants it to stay protected against threats from Iran.

Does Kamala Harris fully support Israel’s right to defend itself?

Kamala Harris believes that Israel has a right to defend itself. Many times, she has reminded others that she would always back Israel whenever it is threatened by Hamas or militias supported by Iran. Hopefully, Harris stated, things will be different for Israel so that the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, is never repeated.

She admits that many innocent Palestinians have died and Gaza faces great suffering, yet he keeps stressing that it matters how Israel reacts and defends its territory. She stands up for the rights of Palestinians to independence, freedom, safety, and dignity. She endorses making a ceasefire so the hostages are released and the fighting comes to a halt.

Harris has emphasized again that the US will not place an arms embargo on Israel as long as she is Vice President. She says that changes in US policy are not expected to go against Israel’s ability to defend its safety.

How does Harris balance her support for Israel with concerns about Gaza?

Harris has said multiple times that she will always support Israel’s efforts to defend itself, especially because of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. She underlines that the Israeli people “should never have to deal” with these atrocious acts, and she describes Hamas as a ruthless terror group responsible for much bloodshed.

She has, nevertheless, made clear that she worries about the serious impact on Gaza’s residents. She has said the whole thing is “heartbreaking” and “devastating” because it has cost many innocent lives and left people without necessities such as food and healthcare. Harris has said that keeping international humanitarian law is crucial and urged Israel to do more to get food, water, and medicine to Gaza.

So the war in Gaza can conclude, hostages held by Hamas can be released, and the Palestinian people can enjoy freedom, safety, dignity, and independence. Harris and President Biden are fighting for a ceasefire. She has pointed out that once the conflict is resolved, it should help Palestinians and secure Israel.

Harris indicated that she will keep talking about the hardships in Gaza and never waver in her commitment to Israel, which is different from how President Biden speaks publicly. Because of the different views within her party and among her supporters, Biden has become more compassionate toward Palestinians as well as Gaza demonstrators.

Why does Kamala Harris support Israel?

Kamala Harris feels that Israel is an important ally and a strong democratic and Jewish nation that shares important principles with the US. She underlines how the people of Israel and America are tied by their commitment to democracy and concerns about security.

  • She backs policies for several important reasons.
  • In her opinion, Harris will continue to stand with Israel in defending itself from threats, mostly coming from groups including Hamas and militias backed by Iran. She insists that the US will assist Israel with its military to enable it to defend its citizens.
  • Harris often underlines Israel’s democracy and the similar values that the two countries have in common, portraying the relationship as mainly ideological and strategic.
  • As vice president, Harris has continued the approach of President Biden, which is to ask for humanitarian progress in Gaza and remain firmly on Israel’s side. Her work to maintain a close connection between the US and Israel is visible in this long service.

Furthermore, Harris’s decision to support Israel fits with her broader foreign policy beliefs and who she endorses politically, such as pro-Israel groups and leaders. She has frequently shown support for Israel in her voting and statements, for example, through rejecting anti-Israel policies such as the UN 2017 resolution on settlements.

Harris believes in supporting Israel, yet she voices worries about the people in Gaza and asks for a ceasefire as well as more supplies to alleviate the hardships of the residents there. It is obvious from this balancing that she wants to tackle the conflict’s hard facts without putting Israel’s security at risk.

On what grounds does Kamala Harris back Palestine?

Besides her strong concern for the humanitarian problem in Gaza, Kamala Harris mainly helps the Palestinian people by supporting their rights to freedom, security, and dignity, and being able to determine their future. She has repeatedly said that Palestinians have a right to live safely, and she has urged the warring sides to reach a ceasefire and free the captives. Harris has asked Israel to respect international guidelines, and she has urged them to permit the entry of humanitarian goods into Gaza to assist ‌civilians who are suffering.

Harris recognizes that there have been many tragic Palestinian deaths and that humanitarian help is still needed. However, she continues to strongly back Israel’s security and its ability to protect itself. To ensure that all parties in the region have peace and security following the negotiations, Harris has been cooperating with Israeli and Arab officials. It excludes any move to reoccupy Gaza or change its borders.

She is trying to tackle Palestinian matters by seeing them as part of America’s larger foreign policy. She seeks to ease the Palestinian situation, support the search for peace, and also back Israel’s security. She still backs most of the Biden administration’s policies, but Harris has been noticed for her kindness towards Palestinians and her calls for humanitarian help and an end to the fighting.

How might Harris’s stance influence US diplomatic relations in the Middle East?

Harris states the United States will continue to help and defend Israel by recognizing its right to defend itself, especially from threats from Iran and its supporters. To highlight the United States’ preference for a negotiated agreement over solo actions, she has played a role in inviting Arab leaders to help ensure Israelis and Palestinians can enjoy stability and security when the war ends. The plan tries to benefit Gaza with more humanitarian support while protecting US relationships and Israel’s security. By doing this, Americans may be seen as more trusted by Arab nations and other partners who are concerned about how civilians are affected.

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Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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