Vice President Kamala Harris met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House

Vice President Kamala Harris met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, following President Joe Biden’s meeting with him.

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris described her Thursday meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House as “frank and constructive.” During the meeting, she expressed her concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and emphasized the urgent need to finalize a cease-fire deal.

“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” Harris told reporters after the discussion. “We cannot ignore these tragedies or become numb to the suffering. I refuse to stay silent.”

Harris reaffirmed her commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself and highlighted what she called a “hopeful movement” in negotiations for a cease-fire. She urged Netanyahu to “get this deal done,” emphasizing the need to end the conflict, bring hostages home, and provide essential relief to the Palestinian people. She also reiterated her commitment to working towards a two-state solution.

Harris did not take any questions from reporters following her statement.

Netanyahu’s office posted a photo of the two leaders shaking hands at the White House on X, following their meeting. The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment on the meeting Thursday night.

Harris also tweeted a summary of the meeting, reiterating her earlier remarks.

The stakes were higher due to the election shake-up, with Harris running for president after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. Harris missed Netanyahu’s speech before Congress on Wednesday because of a prior event in Indianapolis, a duty usually fulfilled by the vice president.

Earlier, Biden hosted Netanyahu in the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting that lasted about an hour, during which they discussed efforts to negotiate a cease-fire and secure the release of American hostages held in Gaza.

The White House readout of the meeting noted that Biden emphasized the need to close remaining gaps, finalize the cease-fire deal promptly, bring hostages home, and achieve a lasting end to the war in Gaza. He also stressed the importance of protecting civilian lives and ensuring the unimpeded flow of aid into Gaza. Biden reaffirmed the U.S.’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.”

Before the meeting, Netanyahu expressed his gratitude for Biden’s 50 years of public service and support for Israel. “Mr. President, we’ve known each other for 40 years, and you’ve known every Israeli prime minister for 50 years from Golda Meir. From a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish American Zionist, thank you for your support,” Netanyahu said.

Biden responded briefly, recalling his meeting with Meir and joking that he was “only 12 when it happened” before the media left.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin is among the estimated 120 hostages held by Hamas following the October 7 attack, expressed to reporters that she believes President Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race enables him to be “laser-focused” on securing the hostages’ release.

“I think not having to worry about the complexities of re-election allows him the freedom to concentrate on this issue. We wish him all the best in this crucial task,” Goldberg said.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of another hostage, Sagui Dekel-Chen, stated that the families received an “absolute commitment” from both Biden and Netanyahu that they “understand the urgency of this situation and are committed to finalizing this deal as soon as possible, with minimal changes.

A senior administration official stated Wednesday that the administration believes a deal is nearing completion, with the situation reaching a point where it is believed the agreement can be finalized soon.

Thursday marked the first in-person meeting between Biden and Netanyahu since Biden’s visit to Israel following the October 7 attack.

Harris has been actively involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict for the past 10 months, including participating in every call with Netanyahu and attending critical meetings with hostage families.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby mentioned at a Thursday briefing that Biden is working with Netanyahu to address outstanding issues related to the cease-fire deal.

When asked if Biden believes Netanyahu is committed to reaching a cease-fire deal and capable of bridging the gaps, Kirby affirmed: “Yes, yes, and yes.” He noted that Netanyahu has publicly expressed his desire to secure the release of hostages and is collaborating with the U.S. to finalize the deal.

Harris’ comments on the conflict are being closely monitored for potential shifts in her approach compared to Biden’s, especially regarding her stance on Netanyahu. This could influence the uncommitted movement that emerged during the primaries, which criticized Biden’s policies on the conflict.

Kirby responded to questions about whether Harris’ foreign policy stance as a candidate would differ from the Biden administration’s by saying, “You would need to speak with the vice president’s office and the campaign for that.”

The senior administration official added that there would be no significant differences between Biden and Harris in their interactions with Netanyahu.

In his speech before Congress, Netanyahu praised Biden for his “tireless efforts” regarding the hostages and for his overall support of Israel. He highlighted Biden’s actions, including sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East and visiting Israel during a critical time.

Netanyahu acknowledged their long-standing friendship, stating, “President Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years,” and expressed gratitude for Biden’s support and leadership.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida residence, on Friday.