Harris: ‘Time is now’ for Gaza deal, Israelis must never again face ‘horror’ of Oct. 7

CHICAGO — US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris pledges to ensure that Israel will always have the ability to defend itself if she’s elected in November.

“With respect to the war in Gaza, President Biden and I are working around the clock because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done,” she says in her speech accepting her party’s nomination for president on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.

“I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself, and will always ensure that Israel has the ability to defend itself,” Harris continues to loud applause from the tens of thousands in the United Center.

“Because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on October 7, including unspeakable sexual violence and the massacre of young people at a music festival,” she says.

“At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives, desperate hungry people fleeing to safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.”

“President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination,” Harris adds, evoking the loudest applause of the foreign policy section of her speech.

She also pledges to “defend our forces and our interests against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists.”