‘I don’t know what they’re talking about’: VP aide hits back at Israeli official who criticized her comments on war

WASHINGTON — An aide to US Vice President Kamala Harris hits back at a senior Israeli official who told reporters that her remarks regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza risk harming efforts to secure a hostage deal.

The senior Israeli official briefing reporters earlier took issue with Harris’s highlighting of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, arguing that the vice president was exaggerating the issue. The Israeli official also said Harris’s talk of the need to end the war was also unhelpful as Jerusalem is seeking to ensure that the hostage deal allows it to continue fighting after phase one.

“I don’t know what they’re talking about,” the Harris aide tells The Times of Israel.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered the same message in their private meetings to Prime Minister Netanyahu: It’s time to get the ceasefire and hostage deal done, and this is what the Vice President said publicly as well,” the aide says.

“Her public comments on Thursday tracked with her previous comments on the conflict. She started her Thursday remarks with rock-solid support for Israel, and then she expressed her concern about civilian causalities and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as she always does,” the aide continues

“The meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Vice President Harris was serious and collegial,” the aide adds.