Rhino: Agencies – US Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Washington will continue to pressure Israel and other parties in the Middle East to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, at a time when Palestinian supporters say the US has yet to use its leverage on its ally.
In a clip released on Sunday from her interview with CBS news program 60 Minutes, Harris said that diplomatic work with Israel is “an ongoing endeavor.” Harris avoided answering a question about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a “true close ally.” “With all due respect, I think the better question is, is there an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people? The answer to that question is yes,” Harris said.
Harris reiterated Washington’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense against Iran and Iranian-backed militant groups such as the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.