'What Happened in Gaza is Devastating:' Biden, Harris Meet Netanyahu, Urge for Peace Deal

Washington: In an effort to push the Israel-Gaza war towards a peace deal, top United States leaders met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is on a visit to the nation.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hosted Netanyahu, carrying forward their attempts to bring peace in the conflict-hit region.

This comes amid at a crucial time when the United States is gearing up for high-stakes November 4 elections with Kamala Harris being the presemuptive presidential nominee. Meanwhile, scored f anti-Israel protests have rocked the nation recntly, leading to arrests on several collge campuses.

Joe Biden, who recently quit the presidential race, met Netanyahu to discuss the ceasefire and hostage deal. He also highlighted the humanitarian crisis being faced by Gaza, which is facing the wrath of Israel post October 7 acttack on it by Hamas.

Biden shared the visuals from their meeting on X and wrote, "Today, I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu for a detailed discussion on the ceasefire and hostage deal. I also raised the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the critical importance of restoring basic services and protecting civilians lives during military operations(sic)." The two leaders were accompanied by other top govt oficials. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also attended the meeting.

Harris Meets Netanyahu

US Vice President Kamala also hosted Benjamin Netanyahu in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House complex and raised the issue of the human suffering in Gaza. During the meeting, she maintained that Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it does so also matters.

“I've said it many times, but it bears repeating. Israel has a right to defend itself, and how it does so matters. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization. On October 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages. There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza,” Harris told reporters following their meeting.

She also voiced concerns over the killing of far too many civilians in was which is now in its nine month.

“I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there. With over two million people facing high levels of food insecurity, and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” news agency PTI quoted her as saying.

“The images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time. We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent,” Harris added.

The VP said that currently a ceasefire and a hostage deal is on the table which will be realised in two phases. The first phase of the deal would bring about a full ceasefire, including a withdrawal of the Israeli military from population centers in Gaza. In the second phase, the Israeli military would withdraw from Gaza entirely and it would lead to a permanent end to the hostilities.

“It is time for this war to end, and end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity, and self-determination. There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal,” she said.

“I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done. So to everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you. Let's get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war. Let's bring the hostages home and let's provide much-needed relief to the Palestinian people,” Harris said.